NFF Top Official Joins Falconets For More Technical Support

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dispatched its Deputy General Secretary (Technical), Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, to Germany, to strengthen technical and administrative support for Nigeria’s Women Under-20 football team, the Falconets.

The Falconets are in Germany for the on-going 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The team drew 1-1 with England in their first Group C match last Wednesday in Augsburg, where they also beat Japan 2-1 in their second match at the weekend.

The Falconets will face Mexico in their final group game today in Bochum.

Tidesport learnt that Ikpeme, who is a trained psychologist, joined the team at the weekend, after leaving Abuja for Germany.

He joined other team officials such as Mr Stephen Gyebgon, NFF Executive Committee member and leader of delegation; and Mr James Peters, the federation’s Assistant General Secretary (Technical).

A source at the NFF’s Glass House Secretariat, told our source on condition of anonymity, that the federation decided to strengthen technical and administrative support for the team to enable it succeed in the competition.

“We are aware of the team’s need of a win to stay in contention for a quarter-final ticket, and we feel we need a strong hand there to ensure technical matters are put right,’’ he said.

The source also said Ikpeme’s trip was a way of ensuring that technical support to the team’s handlers was not lacking, especially with psychology being Ikpeme’s area of specialisation.

“It is one of the ways Dr Bolaji Ojo-Oba, the NFF General Secretary, does things to ensure we achieve success. He feels Ikpeme will be able to do a good job there.

“And judging from their display at the weekend against Japan, this has proved to be a good decision, and we are hoping to reap more from this advantage in subsequent matches.

“Moreover, Ojo-Oba needs to put right a lot of things at the secretariat, and he feels that the Falconets need a lot of help to be able to do Nigeria proud in Germany,’’ he said.

The source also revealed that the secretary general had been busy lately at the NFF secretariat, coordinating the federation’s administrative activities ahead of the NFF August 21 elective congress.

“Ojo-Oba has been busy lately with so many things ahead of the NFF’s August 21 elections and the national youth teams’ matches scheduled for later this month and next month.

“Moreover, there is the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup coming up in September in Trinidad and Tobago, and there is the need to ensure that plans are put in place for Nigeria ’s success in all these engagements,” the source said.