SCORENIGERIA interviews coach of Golden Eaglets Manu Garba after the sports minister’s visit to the team in Abuja at the weekend.
Interview:
SCORENIGERIA: Coach Manu, how are you doing?
MANU GARBA: I am fine, thank you.
How was it having the Honourable Sports Minister Sunday Dare visit your team before your trip to Brazil?
I will say it was a blessing. We have been counting on his visit. It has served as a motivation to us all.
I am happy with the commitment the minister’s has shown to the team. He has promised us that the needful will be done regarding our finances before we leave for the World Cup.
His word gave us additional motivation to go ahead to win the World Cup for Nigeria and Africa as well.
In fact his visit is one of the best things to have happened to us and he gave us his word that all our needs will be met before and while we are in Brazil.
Looking at your team, this week you will be leaving for Brazil. How prepared is the team and do you have a list of those to make the cut?
Yes I have shortlisted the boys who will leave for Brazil, but presently we are still awaiting the results of the MRI test before we move for the training tour.
We are going for the final phase of preparation at Sao Paulo in Brazil. Over there, we have drawn a programme which involves three friendly matches and we will be playing one of the best teams in Brazil, that’s Sao Paulo FC, then South Korea and Japan as well.
The three friendlies will help us properly ascertain our final 21 players though we have an idea already. Going by the FIFA rules guiding the competition, every list should be submitted on or before the last 10 days to kick-off of the competition.
Most importantly those three matches will certainly prepare the team very well.
Sao Paulo FC have been known over time for their pedigree in football having produced players like the legendary Pele of Brazil and others.
Like I said, the three matches will help us expose the boys, so we can do the needful after the matches. We will correct visible lapses and errors noted that can affect us negatively before our first match on the 26th of this month.
Thank you so much coach Manu Garba.
You are welcome.
