The Nation Newspaper

Tag: eaglet

  • OBA AROMOLARAN U-17 CUP: ‘Eaglets’ exploits moved me to donate trophy’

    OBA AROMOLARAN U-17 CUP: ‘Eaglets’ exploits moved me to donate trophy’

    As the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran officially presented a giant trophy to A Square Sports International to organise a grassroots soccer tournament tagged Oba Aromolaran National Under-17 Soccer Competition in his name, he has assured participants drawn from all the states of the federation of a rousing welcome and enjoyable stay in Ilesa.

    The commencement of the maiden tourney has been scheduled for February 23rd and would end on March 2 inside Osun State College of Education Ilesa, Osun State.

    The respected Yoruba monarch during the trophy presentation expressed his happiness over the exploits of the Nigeria Under-17 team that recently won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates(UAE) thus necessitated his interest in donating the Cup for Nigerian youths in the particular grade.

    “I’m moved when watching how our boys dazzled the world during the last FIFA U-17 World Cup in Dubai, I think this effort would assist us sustain our pedigree in the world of youths football globally”, Aromolaran said.

    He, however, promised all states that have qualified after a play-off for the finals of the tournament a memorable and pleasant stay during their one week stay in the sprawling city of Ilesa while assuring eventual winners of mouthwatering incentives.

  • Bafana must attack Eagles — Pattison

    Bafana must attack Eagles — Pattison

    Bafana Bafana midfielder Matty Pattison, who had a good game against Mali, believes South Africa need to go all out against Nigeria and not sit back.

    Besides the positive approach to the game, Pattison also feels that Bafana Bafana could hold the ball for longer and not be in a hurry when they face Nigeria on Sunday.

    South Africa beat Mozambique 3-1, a game in which Pattison did not play. But he got a start in the 1-1 draw with Mali and hardly put a foot wrong in a simple yet effective deep midfield role, although he pushed further forward late in the game.

    Asked if he felt there is an area that Bafana can improve on before the final group game against Nigeria on Sunday, the Bidvest Wits man said: “We should just keep the ball more. Sometimes we must not be in a hurry and especially if we are 1-0 up where we can kill the game off.

    “We can make the opposition chase more of the ball. In the first half it was pretty hot and warm (against Mali). We wanted to push for that second goal but it didn’t come.

    “Had we scored the second goal then it would have killed the game off. We have a pretty tough group and if we do well in this group then we will do well in the tournament.

    “We have to go into that game (with Nigeria) all guns blazing. We have to get the result.

    “We can’t sit back and let them come to us or play for a draw; it is never the right way to play. I am sure we will go into that game trying to win it.”

    South Africa and Nigeria clash at 19h00 on Sunday night at Cape Town Stadium.

     

  • Why we dropped Solomon — Eaglets coach

    Why we dropped Solomon — Eaglets coach

    A coach of the Nigeria Under-17 team has finally opened up on the controversial exclusion of HNK Rijeka youngster Theophilus Solomon from the Nigeria Under-17 Team.

    Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he said: “It was one of the toughest decisions we had to make during the camping in Calabar as Theophilus Solomon was on fire but everybody knows that the essence of our camping in Calabar was to discover midfielders and defenders as we are well covered in the attack, that aside we would have gone with him but the directive of 30 players by the NFF further tied our hands.

    “Solomon on his part wasn’t the same after his muscle problem even though he scored a brace in our last game before he was asked to go.”

    On allegations that he had problems with some coaching staff, the coach said:“Yes I know of a particular coach who accused him of not greeting him prior to a training session but that wasn’t an issue at all, he is a cool kid, level headed and also some people claimed he was outshining Isaac Success that isn’t true as well.

    “Success is Success, Solomon is Solomon, we reached a joint conclusion that our four attackers who have been with us for over three years should be considered first and that was it.”

    Concluding he said: “He is a good player, a very good one. I read he has agreed to join Catania, he will be a big hit, I even tip him to break into the Super Eagles squad ahead of some players who will play at the Under-17 World Cup.”

  • Gov. Akpabio boosts Eaglets with N10m

    THE rank and file of the National Under-17 team was lifted on Sunday evening with confirmation that Governor Godswill Akpabio is set to redeem a pledge of N10m donation to both officials and players of the team, following their 4-1 win over the Junior Menas of Niger at the weekend.

    The governor actually met the team by chance last Thursday at the Abuja International Airport on their way to Niamey when he unconditionally promised the largesse to the officials and players when they returned!

    “I’m glad to meet with you guys again,” said Akpabio in reference to the duo of Emmanuel Amuneke (MON) and Nduka Ugbade, who were part of soccer celebrities when Akwa Ibom State commissioned the posh Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort last year.

    “I have just been told that you guys are currently with the Golden Eaglets and that you are going to Niger to represent the country,” said Governor Akpabio.
    “I’m just coming back from an overseas trip but that notwithstanding, I’m giving the players and officials of the team the sum of N10m. When you come back, you come and pick it for the team,” the governor added, and was given a thunderous ovation by officials and players.

    Late Sunday night, an emissary of the governor reached out to the team’s Oasis Hotel camp in Niamey with words that the donation is ready for collection, adding that the amiableg overnor is a man of his words.Golden Eaglets’ Head coach, Manu Garba (MFR) saluted the governor’s uncommon gesture, saying that the tremendous amount of goodwill so far enjoyed by the team from the NFF, individuals and state governments would further challenge the team to do the best.

    “One of the factors that has so far contributed to our team’s success is the tremendous amount of goodwill we have received from the NFF and individuals and this really motivated the players against Niger,” Manu said as heaped praises on all the team’s benefactors including the government and people of Cross River State.

    Said he: “Our meeting with Governor Akpabio on our way to Niamey was divine because we would not have met him if the NFF did not fly us to Niamey. All of these factors motivated us and we are grateful to good people like Governor Akpabio.

    “We are very lucky in this team, Senator Liyel Imoke, His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River was the first to adopt the Golden Eaglets and he has spared nothing to ensure we are comfortable in Calabar and we are grateful to all of them.”

    NFF Technical Committee member and consultant for the annual Secondary Schools Athletics Championship in Akwa Ibom State, Etubom Paul Bassey who was on the Golden Eaglets’ contingent to Niamey, lauded Governor Akpabio even as he tasked Corporate Nigeria on their social responsibility.