Golden Eaglets to win the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the UAE and
justify the huge expectations of Nigerians.
The Minister who doubles as the Chairman of the National Sports
Commission (NSC) met the Golden Eaglets by coincidence at the local
wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Monday when they flew
in from Calabar on their way to a training camp in Dubai, told the
players and officials that Nigerians and indeed the Federal Government
of Nigeria would be backing them all the way.
"There is no doubt that this is a divine meeting because we did not
arrange to meet here and I want to use this opportunity to thank the
coaches for the job well done so far because I have been following all
your activities,"said Abdullahi. "I want to remind you of the call by
President Goodluck Jonathan to go and win the World Cup when you came
back from the CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco with the Silver
medal and we believe you can do it."
He told the contingent to be good ambassadors of the country at the
World Cup, enjoining them to make discipline their watchword: "As
young athletes you need discipline to excel and I want you to be
disciplined in your conduct at the World Cup."
Responding on behalf of the team, Head Coach Manu Garba (MFR), thanked
the Honourable Minister for his unwavering support to the Golden
Eaglets through the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), pledging that
the players would as usual, do everything humanly possible to bring
honour to the country.
A team of 25 players and 10 officials departed the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport on Monday aboard Emirates Airline for Dubai on a
two-week training camp ahead of the October 17 kick off of the 2013
FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
The Golden Eaglets are drawn against the defending champions, Mexico,
Iraq and Sweden and are ready to follow on the works of their
illustrious predecessors that won the trophy in
1985, 1993 and 2007.
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