Eaglets and MRI tests

The MRI examination is not a new-fangled bit. The tests were conducted on the U-17 Boys’ National Team (Golden Eaglets) that represented the country at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which our country hosted. That team was coached by John Sam Obuh, the man presently in charge of the U-20 National Team. That U-17 […]

The MRI examination is not a new-fangled bit. The tests were conducted on the U-17 Boys’ National Team (Golden Eaglets) that represented the country at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which our country hosted.

That team was coached by John Sam Obuh, the man presently in charge of the U-20 National Team.

That U-17 squad, led by midfielder Ramon Azeez, reached the final of the championship, playing exciting football, before losing to Switzerland. Two years later, a good name of those players were in the

U-20 National Team (Flying Eagles) that won the African Youth Championship in South Africa and reached the quarter finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.

I am a staunch opponent of age cheating in sports, and I have said this several times. The present Executive Committee of the NFF will not, under any guise, condone or tolerate age cheating in any of the age-grade National Teams.

In 2009, as a Member of the NFF Executive Committee, I fully backed the MRI examination on the players. Like any process that we know of, it is not one hundred per cent fool-proof, which was why some people still made noise around the squad. But it is guaranteed to curtail brazen corruption in the age matter.

Which is why I am happy with the comments going round town about the new set of U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets. Before I go further, it is important that I express the very sincere appreciation of the Nigeria football family to the Executive Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, CON for all that he has been doing for both the Super Eagles and the Golden Eaglets.

The Super Eagles played their 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil preliminary match against Namibia, and the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda, at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar.

They did not just play the matches in Calabar. Governor Imoke extended the best hospitality and the uncommon warmth and generosity of the people of Cross River State to the team, as they spent at least one week in the Canaan City before each of these matches.

The Golden Eaglets had a screening camp in Abuja earlier in the year, but ever since the serious exercise of building a team started, their home has been CALABAR. Last week, I spoke to members of the team’s

Technical Crew, from Coach Manu Garba, and they were ecstatic to say that Calabar has become their home.

It is not just the ‘home’ that Governor Imoke (CON) and the good people of Cross River State has provided for them that excites the players and officials. They have had a wonderful environment to build

a team that the whole country is now proud of. Calabar has played tremendous role in the formation of a new GOLDEN EAGLETS that looks set to set new standards and marks, and which could also become the most accepted U-17 National Team in history.

Those who have seen the team play, even from the early stages of rash of friendly matches, have spoken glowingly of the youthfulness of the players. The players are truly young. And as we are determined to implement the transformation agenda in the football sector, the new Golden Eaglets will grow and mature to the Flying Eagles, to the Men’s Olympics Team and to the Super Eagles.

Looking back, I commend the insistence of the world football governing body, FIFA and the continental body, CAF for the players to undergo MRI tests. Ordinarily, I would have insisted. Their stipulation made

it mandatory. And off the players went to the National Hospital, Abuja, some months ago, to conduct the tests.

As usual, the media was awash with sensational reports of how many of the players had failed the tests. There was anxiety and uncertainty among those who claimed to be career football critics. “Yes, the NFF

had come again!” “The NFF will always fumble.” “Oh, what is the meaning of this? This is international disgrace.” The critics had their say, but we knew the truth.

There were those who claimed that as many as 25 players had failed the tests. Out of 40 players, that was. But in the end, the results sent to us and certified by the experts at the National Hospital declared only NINE PLAYERS to be outside the range.

Aside the 40 players that were recommended by the team’s Technical Crew, the NFF also sent another 20 players, mainly from our long-term U-15 programme, to do the tests. At the end, National Hospital declared that we have a pool of 50 PLAYERS from which we can pick a new team of Golden Eaglets.

The players and technical officials were happy with the tests, because it meant their months of hard work and perseverance and dreams had not gone down the slope. The NFF was happy with the tests because we had not only fulfilled the requirements of FIFA and CAF, we had also not wasted money.

And the results have been coming. I have been monitoring the team’s friendly matches all over the country (they even won a trophy in Anambra State) and the heartlifting results that have come from those

friendlies. But I kept telling the Technical Crew that the results that would matter were those against their counterparts from other countries, especially in competitive games.

The two-match friendly against Rwanda’s U-17 Team, early September, was an opportunity for the Golden Eaglets to start proving themselves real good. Against Rwanda in the first match, the Eaglets were 5-0 winners. In the second match, two days later, they swept it 3-0.

The applause from this had hardly died down when the boys went to Niamey for the start of their 2013 African U-17 Championship qualification series. The same day the Super Eagles drew 2-2 with

Liberia in Monrovia in a 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier, the Eaglets pounded their hosts 4-1. I learnt it could have been worse for the hosts.

Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Alhaji Muazu Suleyman who was Leader of Delegation, and Director of Technical (Dr Ikpeme) and Director of Competitions (Dr. Sanusi) as well as Member of Technical Committee, Mr. Paul Bassey regalled me with heartlifting stories of the players’ dexterity.

“If you have a headache, or something bothering you, just go and watch the Golden Eaglets play,” Dr. Sanusi said on a general note.

Today, in Calabar, the Eaglets host their Nigerien counterparts in the second leg of that fixture, and will then be ready to confront their Guinean counterparts in three weeks’ time.

They have a long way to go to qualify for the African U-17 Championship (I understand they still have one more round after Guinea), and the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and to becoming the next set of

Flying Eagles, and Olympic Team, and Super Eagles, but the new Golden Eaglets are surely on their way.

NEXT WEEK: Expectations for Q4