Ikhana Lauds Discipline In Falcons Camp

The Head Coach of the Super Falcons, Kadiri Ikhana, has commended the level of discipline and composure displayed by the players currently in a phased camping programme in Abuja.

Ikhana told newsmen in Abuja, that the players have been going about the exercise with a high sense of professionalism.

“Its interesting to know that the women are displaying a high sense of discipline and they are disposed to learning and receptive to instructions.

“Surprisingly, I’ve been hearing about indiscipline in the Falcons camp before but I’ve not experienced such which I think is impressive.’’Ikhana said.

The newly appointed coach of the Falcons said that the girls have been cooperative with him, and have an aptitude for inculcating innovative ideas.

“They have been cooperating and we’ve been getting everything we needed from them so I think we have wonderful players in camp.’’

The Falcons commenced the first phase of the programme on April 15 in Abuja.

He also appealed to club owners and coaches to be patient with the national team over the absence of their key players because of the team’s programme.

Ikhana, a member of the Green Eagles squad that won the 1980 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Lagos, emphasised the need for an extended camping period for the players.

The former Bendel Insurance FC of Benin wingback and a member of the squad that won the 1978 Challenge Cup reiterated the need for a proper assessment and categorisation of the players.

“They should be patient with us because we just got on board and we need to stay with these players for them to know our objectives and plan for the country.’’

“When we eventually raise the kind of team that we have in mind, then the camping period would be shortened to one week duration subsequently.

“We will give them programmes to take to their clubs and when they fulfill our programmes, we come here and continue from where we stopped.’’the chief coach said.

The Falcons are billed to lock horns with their Zimbabwean counterparts, in a qualifying match for the Africa Women Championship scheduled to hold in Equatorial Guinea.

Zimbabwe will host the fixture’s first leg on May 27, while the return leg will hold in Nigeria on June 16.

The Super Eagles will also play a friendly match against South Africa on June 3 in Johannesburg, on their way back from Zimbabwe.

Victory against Zimbabwe will earn the six-time African champions a place at this year’s African Women Championship (AWC).