Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has called for the protection of young Brentford defender Benjamin Fredrick terming him as a the future of the team.
Chelle handed the 20 year old his full debut in the Unity Cup final game against Jamaica, and he delivered a five star performance with Nigeria going on to win the tournament 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
Fredrick who was initially not in the list of players invited for the tournament, but was handed a route into the team owing to the departure of Ahmed Musa and the late arrival of Uche Chrisantus, was once again included in the team for the game against Russia as a reward for his performance.
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Analysing his performance, Chelle said the defender who was voted the club’s U23 player’s player of the year has what it takes to be the future of the team.
“I can say something we need to protect him ( Fredrick ) because he played well and the reality is for him to continue to improve and work hard and we need to to protect him because this is not the end”, Chelle said in the interview in London with Austin Okon Akpan.
” He is the future of the national team and I think he made a great game, but the reality we conceded two goals. This is the reality. He’s a good player, but we took two goals in and his first role is defending.
“He has a lot of quality about technical skills. He’s fast! So good, boy! Good boy, a good boy and a good player”, he concluded.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
