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Tag: Ugbade

  • Ugbade wants  another Golden Eaglets’ chance

    Ugbade wants  another Golden Eaglets’ chance

    Former Golden Eaglets head coach, Nduka Ugbade has asked  the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to give him another chance to tinker the Under 17 and witness a massive improvement from the last experience.

    Ugbade who is among the fresh  applicants  for the Golden Eaglets job , failed to qualify Nigeria for the last FIFA Under 17 World Cup despite parading a young ambitious side  that lacked conversion of scoring opportunities.

    He said in an interview that he was proud of the players he and his technical crew assembled the last time out , adding if given another chance, he would ensure he gets quality attackers that can score goals and defenders who are worth their salt.

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    “The difference this time around would be probably we would have the opportunity of being supported and having the chance to travel out of Abuja to play some friendly games to further assess the boys,” noted Ugbade who captained Nigeria’s first cadet World Cup-winning team.

    “ We would like to ensure we play more friendly games with NPFL sides to tough the boys. It will be a big different. Hopefully there will a little difference because if I tell you there would be a lot of difference then I am lying to myself.

    What we did the last time was not bad. Most probably we would convert more chances this time around and move forward and try to get to the World Cup.”

  • Brodrick-Imasuen: Ugbade, Adenuga pay tributes to late Golden Eaglets gaffer

    Brodrick-Imasuen: Ugbade, Adenuga pay tributes to late Golden Eaglets gaffer

    Former Nigeria International Nduka Ugbade, as well as  icon of sports journalism, Pa Segun Adenuga, has paid tributes to the late legendary U-17 national team coach, Sebastian Brodrick-Imasuen.

    Brodrick-Imasuen, who achieved global acclaim after leading Nigeria to win the inaugural global cadet FIFA U-16 World Cup at China 1985, reportedly died in Benin on Wednesday after a protracted illness at 85 years of age.

    Ugbade, captain of the victorious China 1985 Golden Eaglets, described the death of Brodrick-Imasuen, fondly called Sabara in his lifetime, as a monumental loss, adding that he had lost not  only a coach but a father figure who gave him a break in his footballing career.

     “It is very sad to hear the passing of great coach Sabara though we all know that it’s an eventuality, particularly when you reach a certain stage,” Ugbade told NationSport. “His death is a colossal loss because he was somebody who devoted all his life to football and, importantly, I’m  happy to have passed through his hands.

    “His life is worthy of emulation because he not only played football to the highest level by playing  at the 1968 Olympics games for Nigeria, he was the first African to have won a FIFA World Cup of any kind and I’m proud to have been one of his products.”

    Speaking further, the 1994 AFCON winner said the late Sabara, who assisted Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof  to  win the AFCON Silver Medal at Algiers 1990,  deserves a national burial, having served  Nigerian football with panache.

     “Of course, coach Sabara deserves to be honoured even in death because history will be kind to him for the feats he recorded with the Golden Eaglets and Super Eagles at different times; may his soul rest in perfect peace,” he added.

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    In his own tribute, Pa Adenuga, a reference on Nigerian football history, said  Sabara would be best remembered not only for his coaching exploits but as a footballer of great repute in his heyday, adding that he was a football-man through and through.

     “Oh! Sabara, what a player,” exclaimed Adenuga, an erstwhile editor at The Punch  Newspapers. “Apart from  Sam Garba Okoye who played for Nigeria and Mighty Jets of Jos, I don’t think Nigeria has produced another durable midfielder as Sabara.

     “He won the FA Cup twice with the defunct Electric Corporation of Nigeria (ECN), otherwise known as NEPA. And he also had a great exploit with Insurance as he was instrumental to their victory in the epic 1972 FA Cup final match when Insurance beat Might Jets in the first national cup final to be played outside Lagos.

     “May God grant him peaceful rest and may his family be consoled because he served Nigerian football well,” he stated. 

  • Tough AFCON test awaits Super Eagles in Cote d’Ivoire, says Ugbade

    Tough AFCON test awaits Super Eagles in Cote d’Ivoire, says Ugbade

    Foremost FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning captain, coach Nduka Ugbade, has warned  that the Super Eagles would not be given a quarter in their bid to annex the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in d’Ivoire, adding that winning the continent’s most-prized trophy is not for the faint hearted.

    Now guaranteed   five  million USD in prize money, Ugbade,  who won the AFCON with the Super Eagles in 1994, said  the competition has grown in stature and prestige, hence  the coach Jose Peseiro-led  current team must sweat to be crowned African champions.

    “Of course, it’s now extremely difficult to win the AFCON,” Ugbade, who led Nigeria to win the inaugural  global cadet Kodak FIFA U-16  World Cup in 1985, told NationSport exclusively.  “You can’t go to the African Cup of Nations with a bunch of 11 friends or 23 colleagues that are friends.

     “You must go remembering that you have some solid weapons and that you have practiced very, very well.

    “And you have a very formidable team. A team that is technically sound and can navigate their way through  tough moments,” he added.

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    Speaking further, Ugbade, who was also part of  Nigeria’s 1992 bronze medal-winning team when Senegal hosted the competition, reckoned  that the Super Eagles already have their work cut out in January after being grouped with Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea  at the forthcoming tournament.

     “In fact, it would be tough going into the AFCON in January because we are in the same group with the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, and you know this is a very, very strong team,” noted Ugbade, the vastly experienced Brazil-trained coach.  “We  also have in the same group  the Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea, but we  can do very well by winning our first match.”

    The Super Eagles will open their account on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea, to be followed with the game against Cote d’Ivoire on January 18 and Guinea Bissau on January 22.

     “I’m confident we can do well,  particularly if we win the first match; and that will set out the tone for the competition,” quipped Ugbade, adding: “If we say the AFCON is difficult to win, we are not only talking about the preliminary group matches, but the knockout stages where you will have to come against the traditionally big teams.”

  • Ugbade downplays Remo Stars’ heavy loss

    Ugbade downplays Remo Stars’ heavy loss

    Nduka Ugbade has said that Remo Stars’ 3-0 defeat to Katsina United on Wednesday night in the NNL Super Four semi-final tie at the Gombe’s Pantami Stadium, will not affect the team ahead of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) campaign.

    Ugbade told Goal: “It was not the type of result we expected but we have seen what to learn from the game.

    “It was a tough one for us but we are not bothered by the outcome because we know the ultimate to prepare a team for the league season. We will be ready for Plateau United and we are here to ensure that we get the right tactics to adopt and also look at the players we have.”

  • Ugbade backs Amuneke for Flying Eagles job

    Ugbade backs Amuneke for Flying Eagles job

    Nduka Ugbade, has said he expects victorious Golden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke to get the job of the U-20s after his achievement at the just concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup.

    Ugbade, who deputised under Manu Garba to this year’s edition of the U-20 World Cup, explained that it had become a tradition to promote coaches and a core of outstanding players to the senior teams as long as they keep delivering good results.

    Amuneke was part of the coaching staff headed by Manu that lifted the Cup two years ago in Dubai.

    While Ugbade was drafted to assist Garba in the U-20 team, Amuneke was elevated to position of chief coach of the U-17 national team by the NFF.

    Being promoted to the U-20 side may not be feasible following the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to retain Amuneke as Eaglets chief coach.

    This was announced by NFF President Amaju Pinnick after Nigeria successfully defended the trophy in Chile last Sunday. Pinnick said retaining Amuneke will help consolidate on the team’s successes.

  • Germany camp will help Flying Eagles – Ugbade

    Germany camp will help Flying Eagles – Ugbade

    Flying Eagles assistant coach Nduka Ugbade has saidtheir Germany training camp will help improve the team’s understanding of the science of the game and make them a better team overall.

    The former Nigeria international said with the training facilities in the European country and with the friendly matches they are most likely to play with some German youth teams, they will help improve his team’s ‘scientific’ approach to games.

    “It is a very good thing that we are going on this tour because it is what we need for our preparation for the World Cup.

    “Having spent the last few weeks at home, camping in Germany will certainly help the players understand the science of the game more, and make us a better team in all aspects.

    “We will have better facilities there and the friendlies we are likely to play will also go a long way in preparing their mindset for the kind of challenge they will face in New Zealand.

    “It gives us better preparation and also improves our scientific approach to games. It is not a tea party for us, it is a continuation of our work.”

    The Nigerian U-20 team departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Saturday night and flew directly to Frankfurt.

  • Eaglets will make Africa proud, says Ugbade

    Eaglets will make Africa proud, says Ugbade

    Nduka Ugbade, an Assistant Coach with the Golden Eaglets, has assured Nigerians that the team would make Africa proud at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Golden Eaglets defeated their Uruguayan counterparts 2-0 on Saturday to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition.

    Ugbade told NAN on telephone on Sunday from the UAE that the Eaglets would ensure they win the competition.

    “Other African countries are now looking up to Nigeria, as the only African team left in the competition, to win the event.

    “We are now saddled with the responsibility of making not only Nigeria proud, but Africans as a whole, as the only team left in the competition from the continent.

    “It is unfortunate that Cote d’Ivoire lost to Argentina eventually. But they played so well and fought relentlessly not to lose out.

    “We are gradually getting to the end of the competition and winning is our utmost goal, and we are not relenting till we achieve this,’’ he said.

    NAN recalls that Cote d’Ivoire, the other African country in the quarter-finals, had lost 1-2 to Argentina on Saturday.

    Ugbade, who led Nigeria to its first win in the competition in 1985, said the Eaglets had been playing to instructions and this had led to its success so far.

    “They have been doing well and we are also concentrating on ensuring that they are physiologically fit to play because that is also an important aspect of their training.

    “Constant talking to the players, both collectively and individually, has also helped. They are young lads and need to be constantly guided,” he added.

    Ugbade, however, allayed fears over Akinjide Idowu missing the next match due to two yellow cards from two games, saying he would be replaced by someone who can equally attack.

    “Let panic not be in the air. We have another player who can take over his position. The attack will not be left open, but be filled with someone capable,” he said.

    The coach also said the injured Success Isaac was getting better, and assured that he would be back in the starting line-up once he was fit to play.

    “We want the injury to heal well, because straining it now can become a major problem in future. If missing the next match will put him in proper condition, it won’t be a bad idea,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the Eaglets will take on Sweden on Tuesday, Nov. 5 in the semi-finals.

  • Eaglets’ glory days are here — Ugbade

    Eaglets’ glory days are here — Ugbade

    Uduka Ugbade, the Assistant Coach of the Golden Eaglets, has said that the team’s technical crew will re-organise it for better performance.

    Ugbade told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the re-organisation would be carried out before the commencement of the 2013 African Youth Championship in Morocco. He said the team would play some friendly matches with local and foreign teams to get the right balance.

    “In fact, as part of the preparation and build up to the U-17 championship, we are already playing friendly matches with local and foreign sides to build a strong team,’’ he said over the telephone.

    The coach added that 35 players had been penciled for the task ahead, and that each player had to compete for a slot in the team.

    “Through the friendly matches we have lined up, we should be able to select our final set of players to represent the country in Morocco next year. We want to use this championship to make up for the disappointment of not qualifying for the last three editions,’’ Ugbade said.

    Ugbade, who captained the 1985 Golden Eaglets squad that won the FIFA U-17 Championship in China, called on the Nigeria Football Federation to adequately support the team.

    Nigeria will play in Group B alongside Congo, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana in the April 13 to April 27 championship.