Golden Eaglets arrive Calabar July 22 for closed-camping ahead of 2013 world cup in UAE

Diana-Okon Effiong

Golden Eaglets, Nigeria’s U-17 football  team and officials, are due in Calabar July 22 to continue their build-up for the world  championship billed for United arab emirate between Oct. 17 to Nov, 8  this year.

This was contained in a statement made available to our correspondent in Calabar by Morakinyo Abodunrin, the  team’s Media Officer.
According to the statement “the  Nigeria Football Federation has concluded  arrangement for the Golden Eaglets to resume  their closed camping in Calabar next week ‘’.

The eaglets handlers had concluded the two-week screening   exercise  of new players  at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project  Centre in Abuja.

Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River State also approved the return  of the team to Calabar to fine tune their preparations for the  forthcoming 2013 FIFA World Cup in the United Arab Emirate.

Tayo Egbaiyelo, Team Secretary, said that a pool of players  from the squad and others picked from the screening exercise and  officials are due in Calabar July 22 to continue their build-up for the  championship.

“Members of the Golden Eaglets’ crew are enthusiastic about  building a formidable squad that would make Nigerians proud at the 2013  World Cup following a successful screening exercise,’’ it stated.

Siji Lagungu, Technical Officer at the NFF, charged with  organising the screening, said he was happy with the quality of players  spotted since it would boost competition for shirts amongst the players.

“ I am happy with what we have been able to do within the  last few days since the coaches were able to pick some players capable  of adding value to the team we already have on ground.

 “At this level, there is no limit to players you can have a  look at until the final team is picked and this will help the coaches to have a strong pool of players for the task ahead.

Assistant Coach Nduka Ugbade equally expressed the same opinion, saying the screening exercise had been a huge success:

“I am really impressed with what have seen so far at the  screening and there is no doubt that some of these players can help the  cause of our team at the World Cup,’’ he said.