U17 AFCON Qualifiers : We Are Suffering, Golden Eaglets Coach Manu Garba Cries Out

Published: August 02, 2018

Less than one month to the West Africa Zone B U17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Niger Republic, Golden Eaglets coach Manu Garba is worried over a lot of things.

The compulsory MRI tests have not yet been conducted, the players live in deplorable conditions and are ill due to a malaria attack.

''We have been clamoring for it for long. The NFF has given approval for the MRI test but unfortunately we are still waiting for money to be released so that the MRI can hold,'' Manu Garba said.

''No matter how good or how young a player is, once he doesn't pass the MRI he cannot take part in the competition.

''When the MRI is conducted we will know who is eligible to participate in the competition so we are worried.

''The NFF should try and make it to be conducted during the week so that we can know those who are eligible for us.''

Manu Garba has also carpeted the Nigerian Federation over the nonpayment of bonuses and allowances to the technical crew.

''MRI is the major problem but the players themselves are not staying in a good condition. Most of the players have been down with malaria.

''With the number of players we have, we cannot take all of them to the hotel, that's why I said MRI is our greatest problem.

''After the MRI, we reduce it to a sizeable number like 30 or 35 that can go to the hotel for maximum concentration.

''Secondly, since we entered the camp, there have been no allowances to the coaches, so we need the NFF to look into that aspect so that it can motivate us to do more,'' he concluded.

In their latest friendlies, the Golden Eaglets, who didn't qualify for the 2017 Fifa U17 World Cup, beat Siaone Academy and Derby FC 3-0 and 4-0 respectively.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel