‘Eaglets Need More Talents’

One of the Assistant Coaches of the Golden Eaglets, Nduka Ugbade, has said that the team’s July 7 open camp in Abuja is aimed at picking  more players for the team.
“The motive behind the two-week programme is to give other young players the opportunity to wear the country’s national team’s jersey and to also exhibit their talent,’’ he said.
Ugbade told newsmen in Lagos on telephone that no fewer than 60 players were expected and that only the very best among them would be selected.
“They need to be discovered and given an opportunity to prove themselves and we are doing just that because you can never tell their abilities,’’ Ugbade said.
He added that the programme will take place at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja and will be on for two weeks in the countdown to the U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirate (UAE).
Ugbade, who won the maiden edition of the U-17 World Cup as skipper of the Golden Eaglets in China in 1985, added that the programme would also aid the team’s preparations.
A total of 52 matches will be played in the UAE’s top stadiums during the tournament, including the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah and the Fujairah Stadium in Fujairah.
The 15th edition of the U-17 World Cup will take place in six cities across the UAE. They are: Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
The other venues are: Sharjah Stadium in Sharjah, Rashid Stadium in Dubai and Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain.
The competition will hold from October 17 to November  8 and is set to be the largest football event in that country’s history.