Sports
Eaglets Lost To Lucky Team – Jaja
Former Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Board member, Dr Sam Sam Jaja, says Golden Eaglets of Nigeria were unlucky to have lost 0-1 to Switzerland in the final match of the FIFA Under -17 World Cup decided penultimate Sunday at the Abuja National Stadium.
Speaking with Tide sports Thursday, in a telephone chat, Jaja said the Eaglets did not lose to a better side, but to a lucky team, which was able to convert the only chance that came their way.
“Besides, soccer fans should not see the outcome of the final game between Eaglets and Switzerland as a taboo because one thing is certain in football, either you win, draw or lose at the end of every match.”
He continued that the Eaglets actually gave a good account of themselves as well as acquitted themselves creditably not withstanding that they lost gallantly in the final game.
“After all, not too many people gave the team the chance of getting to the final stage from the beginning of the championship,” he said.
On the general overview of the tournament, the immediate past president of Nigeria Referres Association (NRA), did not mince words to score the standard of the game above average, even as it was not as high as previous editions.
Reacting to calls on the elevation of Coach John Obuh to the Under-20 national team job, the football administrator stated that it is only NFF, which employed Coach Obuh that knows where to place him, having seen him perform well within six months he was drafted in to groom the Eaglets team.
“Truly, I do not think it will be too much of a reward if the NFF happens to promote him to handle the Under-20 team, but if they insist to allow him continue with the Eaglets, nothing is bad as well, rather it would make him consolidate on his experience and properly get mature to move to the next level.
On the Super Eagles qualification for 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the amiable Jaja commended the team, but he did not fail to attribute the victory to players’ determination rather than the technical input of any one.
“Truly, let the management of the Super Eagles team be well informed that qualifying for World Cup is not the ultimate but good representation is what matters”, he warned.
Heartland Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke has praised his players for not losing focus at the crucial moment in Sunday’s 2-1 home win over Shooting Stars in a NPFL Matchday 24 fixture in Owerri.
The Naze Millionaires defeated the Oluyole Warriors through Chukwuma Agor and John Bassey goals in the 31st and 88th minutes with Mustapha Adam’s 80th minute spot kick a mere consolation for the visitors.
Amuneke while speaking to journalists shortly after the encounter, said his boys showed the zeal and determination to seal the three points and that despite the shenanigans of the centre referee, Kolawole Emmanuel, the boys were never troubled.l
“We were eager to get the three points and we were aware Shooting Stars are a good side and won’t allow us to have our way easily,” Amuneke told journalists in Owerri.
“We planned for them and almost throughout the entire game, they were never a threat to our team. We were able to control the game from the beginning. It was unfortunate how the game ended. We were just focussed on the three points and we are thrilled we got it. It was a very good game from both sides but we subjected them to constant pressure almost throughout the game.”
While he was asked if he believed his boys could finish the season impressively, Amuneke was evasive but noted that he and his players would continue to work harder.
“Everything in line is possible but we know that nothing happens without hard work. We will continue to work harder and continue to see how we can grow as a team. We have a lot of young players in the team. Some of them just got their topflight breakthrough.
“We didn’t lose focus at the time of the controversies. We continued to do the same thing we have been doing and taking the game to them.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, turned the sod of the new Olympic-standard 25,000-capacity Bayelsa Stadium project at Igbogene, Yenagoa, as part of the activities marking the fifth anniversary of the Senator Douye Diri administration.
The former Nigerian leader performed the ground-breaking ceremony as Governor Diri restated his appeal to the federal government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), oil firms operating in the state and the private sector to join hands with his administration to develop sporting talents.
The Federal Government through the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) equally thumped up Governor Diri for initiating the project.
Dr. Jonathan expressed delight over the project, saying as a Bayelsan, he was duty bound to celebrate with the state government for the progress so far achieved.
He lauded Diri’s developmental strides, urging him not to rest on his laurels and that the contractor and the state government should ensure the project met the highest standards.
Jonathan also called on the state and federal governments to set up a sports fund to cater for sportsmen after their active days and encourage younger ones to be involved in sports.
He said: “This is my state and I have to celebrate with the government for the progress so far made. This is an iconic project that will develop the state. Please do not rest on your laurels as we want this stadium to meet the best standards.
“I am happy with the presence of relevant federal government officials. I hope they will guide the state well and support where necessary.
“As a country, we must have a fund to care for sportsmen. The federal and state government can think about it so that the younger generation will be interested in sports.
“I am happy that you gave a target of 24 months and I hope that by that time I will escort President Tinubu to Bayelsa to inaugurate it.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has condoled the family of former Nigeria international midfielder, Ayo Ogunlana, who died in Kaduna on Friday after observing his early-morning walk.
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, showered tributes on the departed midfield pearl, who was a star attraction during a number of important Nigeria FA Cup battles in the 1980s and held sway in the middle for the Super Eagles in the late 1980s, and at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Algeria.
“We are very sad to learn of the sudden passing of Ayo Ogunlana, only a couple of weeks after the demise of another former Eagle, Moses Effiong (a member of the 1980 AFCON-winning Green Eagles squad, in far-away USA). Ogunlana was a great midfielder who made playing football look so easy with his majestic touches and turns, and his magnificent free-kicks.
“We pray that the Almighty will grant both of them eternal rest and grant the families they have left behind the fortitude to bear the losses.”
Ogunlana was magisterial in the midfield as Nigeria overhauled Guinea and Zimbabwe to qualify for the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, and was imperial against Cameroon in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Ibadan that the Super Eagles won with an emphatic 2-0. He also played in the 1990 ECOWAS Cup competition that Nigeria hosted in Kaduna.