After a memorable six weeks with home-based Super Eagles players culminating in a bronze medal effort at the just concluded SA 2014 CHAN African Nations Tourney, team’s Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has anchored the success story of the team on the support he has received from the Nigeria Football Federation, and by extension the Sports Ministry, the players and members of staff of the team.
Addressing the team and its officials late Saturday night, Keshi says the NFF have been very supported, the players have opportunity to lay a claim to the World Cup place in Brazil and the staff of the team have been totally committed to the job of uplifting Nigerian football.
From the players he singled out Ejike Uzoenyi, the Most Valuable Player of the CHAN 2014 for special mention, noting that at a point the player’s form dropped drastically but he listened to advise to improve and today, he has become the MVP of a major championship in world and particularly African football calendar.
He thanked all his technical assistants for their invaluable advise. “From Amokachi to Shorunmu and Coach Valere, we spent hours together after dinner or games just strategizing and most times I come out to speak but they have been too supportive and I want to thank them.” Dayo Enebi Achor, team’s administrator got the plaudits on the part of the staff, with Keshi insisting that but for the near perfect professionalism of the staff and their self denial for nearly two months, success no matter how little would never have been achieved.
Keshi then made the following remarks, “It will be to my delight if four players from this team we have taken to CHAN can make it to the World Cup in Brazil, but you must be dedicated, respect your club coaches and make discipline your watchword”.
Uzoenyi Dedicates MVP To God, Teammates…Gets Plaudits From Mates
South Africa CHAN 2014 Player of the Tournament, Chrisantus Ejike Uzoenyi of Rangers International of Enugu, has attributed his feat to his strong believe in God, the immense support of his teammates and family members.
He also promised to ginger his teammates to battle for shirts in the coming summer World Cup in Brazil, because he believes that many of them are equal if not better than those who ply their trade outside the shores of Nigeria. He promised that the win of the MVP will not get him distracted, because he wants to eke a name for himself in Nigeria’s football annals.
All his 22 other teammates also believed that he was deserving of the title as many of them refused to acknowledge the petit playmaker, when he was named the tournament’s best.
His teammates however were full of praises for the Nigerian side, with Keshi himself noting the suddenly we are losing our heads again, because those we dashed drinks are now coming to ask for more.
Eagles Return Home After CHAN…Team Sorry For Trophy Miss…As Envoy Preaches Humility
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will return home on Sunday night after a hectic three weeks of participation at the CHAN African Nations Tourney. The first timers emerged with a bronze medal at the tourney, with skipper of the side, Chigozie Agbim, pleading with Nigerian for coming short.
“We came here with the intention to win the championship, but we could not make it, but we remain thankful to God that we came away with the bronze medal, the fair play trophy and we produced the Player of the Tournament.
The Nigerian side will depart Cape Town venue of the final on Sunday morning, head to Johannesburg and from there connect Lagos, from where the. team will leave for its final destination in Abuja on Tuesday morning after sleeping over in Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Ambassador Sunday S. Yusuf, has counseled the CHAN 2014 Super Eagles to make humility their watchword as they aspire for higher football challenges, with big money moves for some of the p[layers already looming.
The envoy who visited the team at dinner time at the Garden Court Hotel, said he was totally convinced at the prowess of the team and will stop at nothing to keep advertising the team to the highest level of governance in Nigeria. “President Goodluck Jonathan, whom I represent here is proud of you and all Nigerians are proud of this team also but we must allow the little success we have here to get into our heads”, he said.
Zimbabwean Coach: My Penalties’ Plot Failed…Salutes Eagles Work Rate
Zimbabwe National team coach, Ian Gorowa, says because one of his players was red carded in the first half of the third place game against Nigeria at the CHAN tournament, he planned for a penalty shoot-out to oust the Eagles but the plan failed him.
“When you are down in the first quarter of a game like that and against a strong side like Nigeria you will want to make a statement by being cautious and then eventually waiting for a penalty shoot-out. But we defended and defended and at a point we have to cave in to the fire-works. But I was really looking forward to a penalty shoot-out that never was.
He thereafter praised the resilience of the Nigerian side, while declaring that Zimbabwe as a country has garnered immeasurable knowledge for playing in the semi-final of the CHAN tourney, urging other SADC member nations to keep pushing for the top in African and world football.
newfanzone 