Manu Garba and Aliyu Abubakar at media briefing.
Golden Eaglets’ Head coach Manu Garba (MFR) says there won’t be any escape route for Uruguay when they meet for the first time at the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the Sharjah Stadium on Saturday for a semi-final ticket at UAE 2013.
The South Americans recently had an identical 2-1 over the Flying Eagles and the Super Eagles at recent FIFA-organised competitions (U-20 and Confederations Cup) but Manu pull no punches when pressed about the chances of Golden Eaglets against the Charruas.
“The Golden Eaglets are different from the Super Eagles and even if you bring a Uruguayan team with Diego Forlan, we would try our best to win the match,” Manu said confidently like a Hercules.
Indeed, Manu admitted that it was a Herculean task for the Golden Eaglets to arrive at this stage of the competition having played in what could be regarded as the toughest group that housed defending champions, Mexico and two strong debutantes, Sweden and Iraq, adding
that his boys are now toughened to withstand the rough and tumble stage of the competition.
“As I said earlier, the knockout stage is the most difficult stage of any competition but we are ready to beat Uruguay on Saturday because our only aim of being here is to win the trophy,” noted Garba who is already an Under-17 World Cup winner as assistant coach in 2007.
History indeed favours Nigeria to progress beyond the Quarter-finals since you have to go back to 18 years ago when the Golden Eaglets lost 2-1 to Oman at the 1995 edition held in Ecuador.
“It is a great honour for us to represent our country at this stage of our career,” said solid-built Aliyu Abubakar who attended the press conference. “We are going to do our very best to win this match based on the instructions to be given to us by our coaches.
“We remain focused with high level of discipline and we are going to do our best to win this match and progress to the next stage of this competition,” added Aliyu who has earned his stripes at this championship with gritty performance against Iraq and Iran.
In another interview conducted by channel from a TV Uruguay, assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade said matter-of-factly:“Like any team that is in the competition, we are here to win and we would try our best to beat Uruguay.”
Kelechi: I’m Ready to Rumble Against Uruguay
Golden Eaglets’ five-goal hero, Kelechi Iheanacho said he’s ready to contribute his part to ensure Nigeria passage to the semi-finals of the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
There had been concern far and wide after the former Under-15 starlet limped off moment after scoring a goal in the 4-1 win against Iran in the second round.
But Kelechi is now up and running after two days of training in Sharjah, saying he is fit and rearing to go.
“I’m okay now and by the grace of God, I shall be ready to play against Uruguay on Saturday,” he said.
Asked to predict the score line of the match, Kelechi said he was looking forward to victory for the Golden Eaglets, praying to God to be among the goals: “Our prayer is that God shall help us achieve victory and it is not important who score the goals in as much as we win.
“I would be happy to do the best I can and I’m looking forward to play against Uruguay.”
Meanwhile, the media officer in Sharjah , Arnaldo Haze has described the Golden Eaglets as one of the exciting teams at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, saying the all South American- African quarter- finals in Sharjah is a mouth watering prospect.
It would be a battle of continental champions between Baby Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and La-Albiceleste of Argentina; Golden Eaglets would tackle the Charruas of Uruguay who cam fourth in their South American U-17 Championship.
“You have a very good team, said the genial Brazilian. “ In fact your Under-17 team reminds me of your team at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. “I remember you beat Argentina and Brazil to win the Soccer Gold Medal and I think we are going to have a good match here in Sharjah with the African and South American teams.”
Uruguay: Success Tips Eaglets to Avenge F/Eagles Defeat
Injured Golden Eaglets’ Vice Captain, success Isaac believes his teammates would overrun Uruguay to avenge the defeat inflicted on the Flying Eagles at the last FIFA Under-20 World Cup Championship in Turkey.
Exactly three months ago, the South Americans beat a 10-man Flying Eagles 2-1 complete with Wilfred Ndidi who was Success’ predecessor as deputy to Musa Muhammed in the national Under-17 team.
“I have no doubt that we are going to beat Uruguay on Saturday,” said Success on the margins of the team’s final training session at the University of Sharjah on Friday.” I think we have to pay back Uruguay for beating the Flying Eagles at the last Under-20 World Cup.”
Success said his optimistic was borne out of the fact that his teammates are fired up to go all the way.
He continued:” We have a very good time and I was so impressed with the way we defeated Iran in the second round and I have assurances from my teammates that they are going to give their best against Uruguay on Saturday.”
Though automatically ruled out of the quarter-final clash due to injury, Success said he is happy to serves as a motivator behind the scene.
“It is difficult to accept the fact that I’m out injured and could be boring at times,” he said.”But I always go to their rooms to remind them about the reason we are here.”
He further predicted that the duo of Taiwo Awoniyi and Musa Yahaya that has scored five goals between themselves would bury the ghost of Uruguay against Nigeria.
Similarly, two-goal Chidiebere Nwakali is equally upbeat:” We watched their (Uruguay) last game and we have been told how to handle them because they are a good side.
“But we are going to win by the special grace of God,” waxed Nwakali.
Eaglets Get Briefs on Uruguay
Golden Eaglets have been told unity of purpose is the key weapon to unlock Uruguay in Saturday’s quarter final match at Sharjah Sports Club.
Reviewing team’s performance before serious ball work during trainings in Sharjah, the coaching crew told the players in clear terms: together we can succeed.
“The word team is well defined,”Ugbade said. “Togetherness; each one of us; and all of us can achieve; More.”
He continued:”Victory is important but the most important thing for us is how we achieved the result.
“It is not about who scored but how many goals we can score in order
to win our matches,” he noted.
The team talk moderated by Head Coach Manu Garba centred on having a super winning mentality against Uruguay.
“We must cure ourselves of individualistic style and not play just to impress the crowd because that would be our greatest undoing against a team like Uruguay,” added Emmanuel Amuneke.”We don’t care about who emerge the highest scorer but who wins the trophy.”
Meanwhile’ Victor Ikpeba, a member of the NFF’s Technical Committee who came in company of Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme of NFF to witness the training session on Thursday, said the Golden cannot afford to fail now.
“We are impressed with what you are doing and personally, I want to congratulate you for what you have done so far and we want you to continue to do more especially against Uruguay on Saturday,” said the 1997 African Footballer of the Year.
He further advised the players to pay attention to instructions from the coaches, challenging them to beat Uruguay:”It would be great if you can reach the last four at this championship and from there, anything can happen. You have shown the belief that you can do it and I want to wish all of you the best in the forthcoming match against Uruguay.”
Mexican Referee to Handle Uruguay- Nigeria Q-Final
Top USA-based Mexican referee, Jair Marrufo would have the honour to handle Match Number 47 between Uruguay and Nigeria at the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 at the Sharjah Stadium on Saturday at 8:00pm local time- 5:00pm Nigerian time.
Sharjah would make history on Saturday when the famous Islamic City host two quarter-final matches involving two teams each from Africa and South America.
The experience of Marrufo, the 2008 MLS Referee of the Year would come in handy when he official the match between Uruguay and Nigeria since he can speak Spanish and English fluently.
Marrufo, a son of Mexican referee, Antonio Marrufo Mendoza, has been a Major MLS referee since 2002 and he’s already on the list of 52 for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
He would be assisted by Eric Boria (USA), Ricardo Morgan (Jamaica) as assistant referee 1 and 2 while the duo of Pavel Kralovec and Martin Wilczek from Czechoslovakia would serve as fourth official and assistant reserve referee. The Golden Eaglets as the away team would
revert to their white jerseys while Uruguay would be in their traditional light blue jerseys.
admin
