The selection of players for the next Under-17 national team of Nigeria popularly referred to as the Golden Eaglet has been concluded according to coach of the team Manu Garba.
Garba was reappointed coach of the team he lead to glory in 2013 at the World Youth Championship in the UAE, despite his inability to qualify them for the last edition of the youth showpiece.
In an exclusive chat with Owngoalnigeria.com, the coach revealed he has done almost everything he need to do regarding screening and selection of players for the next set of youngsters for the Nigerian team.
” Hopefully I will release the list of players who are expected to be in camp for our upcoming qualifiers later in the week. I and other members of my technical crew have done a lot in terms of screening the past few days”, the coach told Owngoalnigeria.com.
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” The idea is to have them early in camp and also have a squad size which one can manage. We are however open to having new players in the team. It will be in the form of elimination by substitution. If we see a player better than the one we have in camp. We will pick him at the expense of our choice”.
On the secret of his success as coach of the Nigerian team particularly in area of the progression of players to the senior national team, the coach narrowed it down to his own personal experience as young footballer.
” I represented Nigeria at the U-17 level, and in most of the team I played during my days, I was the youngest. The desire to see players progress like me comes top ahead of any of my personal ambition.
” At U-17 level they are stuffs you look out for in a player, you can’t see everything. So you have to look at their strength and work on it especially for the good of your team”.
Osas Mahawi
