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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012
Bassey donates N.1m to Eaglets’ technical crew
“I have watched football all my life and I can’t count the numbers but today, I saw my best game ever. I saw a team that played like a family. I saw young boys who were enjoying themselves.” mpressed by the technical depth and savvy of the ‘New Nigeria Golden Eaglets’ who defeated the Junior Menas of Niger Republic 4-1 at the weekend, Etubom Paul Bassey, donated N100,000 to the team’s technical crew. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Match Commissioner and General Coordinator, said his ‘widows mite’ was borne out of the fact that the players would not have
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raised their game to such an excellent level without conscious coaching. Bassey, who praised the players in the dressing room, prophesied that there was indeed hope for Nigerian football going by the maturity, depth and cohesive display by the players and pleaded with the technical crew to remain focused and concentrate of strengthening the team further. “When I heard that you were beating local teams 9-0, 7-0 6-0 in Calabar, I was not impressed,”he said. “Dr. Ikpeme said to me that we have a good team but my response was that I
was not impressed. “But when you played Rwanda and won convincingly, I said maybe because that was your first real test, you had to roll out the tank to kill Rwanda. My mind was a bit at rest but today, you made me so happy.” Bassey noted that his happiness was not borne out of the fact that the Golden Eaglets scored four goals but their compelling display. “I have watched football all my life and I can’t count the numbers but today, I saw my best game ever. I saw a team that played like a family. I saw young boys who were enjoying themselves. But please, don’t carry this into
FIFA U-20: Stars express gratitude over special awards The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Japan 2012 reached a dramatic climax in an exciting final in whichUSA emerged as worthy champions. In addition to the team trophy, numerous individual honours were awarded. Some outstanding players later spoke to FIFA.com about their feelings.
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zsenifer Marozsan was given the adidas Golden Ball as best player of the tournament. Dzsenifer, you may have lost the final, but you still managed to win a trophy. Is that something you can be pleased with? “I wasn’t expecting it at all. You hear other people talking about how well you’re playing, but when you get something like this, it’s a big surprise. It’s a huge honour. Of course I’d have preferred to have won the World Cup and it’s a massive disappointment. We played a great tournament and one goal ruined everything. We’ll need a bit of time, but then I’ll be able to enjoy my award. We can be proud of ourselves and our displays here. We need to get over this defeat quickly and set ourselves new targets.” As the only freshly-crowned world champion among the individual winners, USA captain Julie Johnston was handed the adidas Bronze Ball for third-best player of the tournament. “My eyes filled up straight away and I cried a little. It was so unexpected. I was so happy with winning the World Cup and then a woman approached me and told me I’d won the Bronze Ball. I feel very honoured. I came here to play for the team. It’s just such a big surprise. Normally it’s the attacking players who get these awards, not defenders. I’m so happy and proud. It means a lot to me.” Germany No1 Laura Benkarth kept five consecutive clean sheets before conceding her only goal of the tournament in the final. Yet that does not detract from her achievement and she was a worthy winner of the adidas Golden Glove for the competition’s best goalkeeper. “Obviously I’m delighted with the award, it’s a massive honour. But right now the disappointment about losing the final against USA is overwhelming. It’ll take a bit of time before I get over it.” Hosts Japan were able to celebrate two additional honours alongside their third-placed finish. On top of the FIFA Fair Play award, Yoko Tanaka was presented with the adidas Silver Shoe as the tournament’s second-best goalscorer. “I’m happy and satisfied with myself because I don’t normally get so many goals. In every game I played up front in, I was so eager to score for the team, for us to win and not to fail. I gave everything and I’m really proud of what I’ve done for myself and for the team at this tournament.”
Dzsenifer Marozsan, adidas Golden Ball winner, Laura Benkarth, Winner of the adidas Golden Glove, Yoko Tanaka was presented with the adidas Silver Shoe as the tournament’s second-best goalscorer
your heads. “Even if you had won 2-1 today, it would have been immaterial because I didn’t come to see the score line. I came to watch a team that has a future and I’m thoroughly impressed. This is just the beginning for you. I’m so happy with all of you. I’m happy that I’m part of this delegation to Niamey.” The morning after the game, Bassey announced his cash gift to the technical crew saying: “I’m so happy with what you people are doing, please keep it up.” Expectedly, members of the technical crew collectively thanked him, promising not to let Nigerian down.
Garba Manu, Head Coach, Golden Eaglets
Eagles to resume camp for Liberia early October
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he Super Eagles were yesterday in Abuja decamped but are to return in the first week of October to begin preparations for the conclusive leg of the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier against the Lone Star of Liberia. The team’s Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, said in a statement that team chief coach Stephen Keshi announced the recess to the players soon after they arrived in Abuja yesterday morning. The return leg scheduled to be held in Calabar on October 13, will produce the eventual winner of the sole ticket for the 2013 African Nations Cup Finals in South Africa, January next year. In Saturday’s first leg clash, the Eagles were forced to a 2-2 draw by the Lone Star at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia. “Those that will be needed for the return leg match will be notified early,’’ Keshi was quoted as saying while addressing the players at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Keshi’s announcement prompted many of the foreign-based players to quickly return to their respective base, while only a few headed to the team’s Bolton White Apartments’ camp from where they departed to their various clubs. Meanwhile, date for their will be announced later according to the team’s Secretary, Dayo Achor. “The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will take a decision on the camping dates and place for the team later this week. “However, a proposal that will see the Nigeria-based players resuming camp ahead of their overseas-based counterparts is already being worked on,’’ it added.
Blatter urges Falconets’ transformation to Super Falcons
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IFA President Sepp Blatter has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to transform the present set of Falconets into the next set of Super Falcons. Blatter, who was impressed by the performance of the African champions throughout the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, in Tokyo, Japan, said the team was promising and could be a force to be reckoned with in future if the players were kept intact. The Falconets had on Saturday in Tokyo lost 1-2 to hosts Japan in the third-place match of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. “Though they ended up with the wooden spoon among the four semi finalists, after a splendid run that saw them win three matches and draw one, the Falconets played with purpose, vision and invention and should be encouraged. “ Your girls are very good players. Their creativity and strength bring a lot to the tournament. It would be good to keep them together so that they can take the steps to the next grade,” Blatter was quoted to have told NFF’s Executive Committee member, Effiong Johnson. “Their battling effort on Saturday against the host nation, especially in the second half, underscored tenacity and courage in front of a near full-house rooting for the opponents,’’ he was further quoted to have said. Blatter urged the players not to be discouraged as they had shown strength of character and capacity, describing them as a great credit to the women’s game, even as Effoing promised to relay the message to the NFF. The Falconets, who were in Group B along South Korea, Brazil and Italy, failed to go a step further than they did in 2010 where they emerged finalists losing to hosts Germany 2-0. They lost in the Losers’ Final to Japan on Saturday. Their semi-finals conqueror, the U.S.A, won the competition after a lone strike from Kealia Ohai a minute before half-time gave them a 1-0 win over defending champions Germany.