GOLDEN EAGLETS SHINE IN SIX-GOAL THRILLER

Ahead of its first high profile friendly match against Nanka 11 during the official opening of NEROS Sports Stadium in Nanka, Anambra on May 26, the Golden Eaglets spanked Dreamland Football Academy from Ukwa West LG of Abia State, 6-2 in a trial match played at the Practice Pitch of the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium in Calabar on Saturday.

The Eaglets dominated their opponents throughout the game to the delight of neutral fans and officials; their performance was an improvement over their first practice game when they were forced to a 1-1 draw by Calabar Selected last Thursday. Against Dreamland, the players were purposeful with the strikers finally showing that they have killer instincts by scoring three goals in each of the two halves. The two goals conceded were against the run of play due to momentary loss of concentration in the defence

Head coach, Manu Garba (MFR) said the team is still a work in progress, saying that the response of his wards to training and performances in the two practice matches so far are signs of better things to come.

“There is nothing to celebrate because we have not won anything yet but we must commend the players for their attitude towards training and good comportment since we started the closed camping,” stated Manu, adding that the team would be ready for its first major friendly match-codenamed ‘Operation Storm Nanka’- on Saturday. “We are intensifying our training so that the players would be ready for the important friendly match against Nanka 11. This is an important assignment for us and there is the possibility of playing one or two practice matches before we travel to Nanka.”

Coach Christian Nwoke of Abia State Sports (ASC), who accompanied Dreamland to the match, said the Golden Eaglets gave a good account of themselves and the match was good test for their players who would soon be undertaking a training tour of Portugal. He advised the Eaglets’ coaches to work on their lapses while offering his best wishes to the team.

“It was a good game and a good test for us,” said Nwoke who heads ASC. “The Golden Eaglets did well but there are still more work to be done. They are still evolving and we wish them all the best in their future assignments.”

Meanwhile, Manu has outlined four secrets of success for the Golden Eaglets –tagged The Four Cs- as they stepped up preparations for upcoming matches. He told the players that they needed confidence, composure, commitment and concentration at any given time on the pitch, revealing that those who would make the team’s final list would be subjected to the ‘four-way’ test.