Monday 24 June 2013

Akanni urges Flying Eagles to unite


Ex-international, Waidi Akanni has charged the Flying Eagles to play cohesively at the ongoing FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey to stand a chance of advancing in the tournament.
Akanni said in Lagos that the Flying Eagles would have to display all they were taught during their preparation in Germany.

He spoke against the backdrop of the team’s 2-3 defeat to Portugal on Friday in the second game of Group B on the opening day of the tournament.
Akanni, who won a bronze medal with the Flying Eagles in the 1985 edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Russia, said that the team prepared adequately for the tournament.
The former midfielder commended the Federal Government for exposing the team to the invitational tournament at Toulon, France, adding that it was a rehearsal of sort for the World Cup.
``They need to play as a team. Selfishness kills any team, so the players should play cohesively to ensure a victorious outing at the tournament.
``They have really prepared well for this tournament taking cognisance of their participation at the invitational tournament in France.
``I sincerely hope that they will go far in the tournament, their results from the last tournament in Toulon should spur them to give a good account of themselves in Turkey,’’ Akanni said.
Akanni, who was also a former Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, advised the team’s handlers to work on the players’ psyche.
``The players need to be prepared psychologically for this tournament because football is not just about the field, the frame of mind of the players must be worked on.
``Motivation for the players is essential too; motivation is never too much for anyone to succeed,’’ he said.

No comments:

Post a Comment