Eagles’ Form Excites Amuneke

Golden Eaglets’ Assistant Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has
expressed joy at his team’s 5-1 spanking of Diamond Stars Academy FC in a
friendly at St Patrick’s College, Ikot Ansa, Calabar last week.

The national U-17 team is currently camped in Calabar, ahead
of the 2013 CAF U-17 qualifier against Niger Republic in September, this year.

The friendly match against Diamond Stars was the Eaglets’
first training match since resumption last week in Calabar, for their second
closed camping.

Diamond Stars won the Cross Rivers State Governor’s Cup in
2010.

Amuneke told newsmen after the friendly that the match,
against a grassroots team, was part of other friendlies lined up to fine-tune
the Eaglets for the qualifier.

“It is about time the players begin to assume
responsibilities on the pitch and we are encouraged that they are executing
some of the things we are teaching them.

“This is our first game but the players are gradually
getting back into their groove which is a good thing to see,’’ Amuneke, the
1994 African Footballer of the Year, said.

Kelechi Iheanacho was easily the man-of-the-match, which was
played under the rain.