Don't Trade With F/Eagles, Coach Warns Obuh Ahead Of AYC

As Nigeria’s Flying Eagles  arrive in Atalya, Turkey today to intensify preparations for the Libya 2011 African Youth Championship, AYC, Coach Hunpe Hunga, who guided Obaluaye Football Club to win the Lagos FA Cup in 1999, has warned Coach John Obuh not to trade with the players at the expense of the tournament.

Hunga, admonished Obuh, who is also in charge of Nigeria Premier League side, Sharks F.C to see the European training tour arranged for him by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, as an avenue to expose and prepare the team better for the AYC than turn it to a business trip.

The Badagry-born soccer tactician, who left football coaching for dance coaching, advised Obuh not to allow any football scout distract the players during their preparation.

He noted that if Obuh allows the players to follow  prospective suitors in search of clubs, they may get injured in the course of trials, which may eventually work against Nigeria in Libya.

Speaking further, Hunga, popularly referred to as ‘Master Drummer’ said the Flying Eagles have what it takes to rule Africa but warned that Obuh must be up and doing if he must consolidate on the success recorded two years ago, when he led the Golden Eaglets to a second place finish at the FIFA U-17 World Cup tagged; Nigeria 2009.

According to him; “No doubt the NFF has provided the necessary machinery for Obuh to succeed in Libya. He has led the team on a training tour and has a German assistant. It is a very good development but my candid advise to him is that he should not go there with an intension to market the players”.

Continuing he said: “it is an established fact that some of the age-grade coaches, when given the opportunity to embark on an European training tour, they seize the opportunity to enrich themselves by ‘enslaving’ the players. They force the players to sign contracts and get their commission from the proceed, it is not good for football development”.

On his reaction to the dropping of Emmanuel Sanni, known as Synagogue boy, who was adjudged the second best player at the ‘Nigeria 2009 World Cup,’ Hunga said big names don’t play football adding “I heard he didn’t go to the camp.

“And, as a coach I don’t tolerate indiscipline. I also stand to be corrected because as a grassroots football coach, I do flog my players whenever they are not playing to my instruction”.

—Adebobola Alawode