The National Sport Commission (NSC) will hold a special retreat for players and officials of the victorious Golden Eaglets in order to forestall any untoward incident in their immediate and future careers.
This much was disclosed by the Honourable minister for Sport and chairman of NSC, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi during interactions with officials of the team stating that the baby Eagles must be guided not to make the mistake of some of their predecessors who failed to progress beyond the age-grade level.
He posited that the success of the Golden Eaglets is an eye opener of what can be achieved with careful and detailed plans adding that the youngsters represent 10 years of Nigerian football if well managed hence the need for a special retreat for the players as well as their parents and guardians.
? I think a special retreat is necessary for both the players and their parents or guardians so that all of us would be on the same page because their future should be of concern to all of us,? said the
Minister who repeatedly warned the Golden Eaglets to remain focussed despite their present success.? We must not and we at the NSC would not allow the efforts of everybody towards the success of this team to be wasted and me personally belief that Nigerian football stands to gain much if we can guide these boys very well as regard
their future steps.?
Erstwhile, Golden Eaglets and a member of the NFF Technical committee, Victor Ikpeba said the minister?s position is a welcome development since experience have shown that not many Nigerian kid stars made a success of their careers long after displaying huge potentialities.
Said the 1997 African Footballer of the Year: ?The minister?s idea is a very sound one and the NFF and those of us in the technical committee are already looking at various ways to sustain the momentum already created by the players and coaching crew of the Golden
Eaglets.?
It was learnt that plans are afoot to bring together notable individuals that could help the lads in career and life management and the retreat is expected to hold shortly after Super Eagles? World Cup decider against Ethiopia this weekend.
