Golden Eaglets Assistant Coach Leads Non-League Team Into FCT Preseason Final

Newly appointed Nigeria U-17 team's assistant coach, Bunmi Blair, on Tuesday, led relatively unknown team, Cityzens Football Club into the final of the 2018 FCT preseason tournament.

Bunmi, a journalist/coach who was recently appointed as one of the assistants to veteran Golden Eaglets coach, Manu Garba, led Cityzens FC to a 2-1 victory over Oyah FC in the semi final and will now face Nigeria National League, NNL team, NAF Rocket FC in the final on Friday.

The CAF B liencenced coach was modest in his expectations ahead of the final.

"It has been a great experience for us so far, knowing that we are a new team. For us the final is like any other game, we will go there and showcase ourselves.

I'm hoping that after the finals, most of these players will get clubs worthy of their true status," Bunmi said.

Cityzens FC, formed late last year, defeated Liberty FC 3-0, Alpha FC 2 - 0 and Oyah FC 1-0 in the group stages of the competition.

In the quarter final, Cityzens FC handed FC Abuja now known as EFCC FC a 2-1 defeat before confirming their supremacy over Oyah FC for the second time in the competition with a 2-1 victory in the semi final.

On the other hand, NNL team, NAF Rocket FC, came from two goals down to beat Supreme Court FC 3-2 in the other semi final played in Abuja on Tuesday, 20, 2018.

The FCT preseason tournament is played every year to prepare FCT based teams for the new league season and also unearth new talents from the grassroots.

The final of the 2018 edition will be played Friday the 23rd at the Area 3 Play Ground, Abuja by 3pm.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel