GOLDEN COACHES MANU GARBA: The head coach is vastly experienced and could be likened to a silent achiever. He assisted late Coach Yemi Tella when Nigeria won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup for the third time in 2007. A Bachelor of Arts Degree holder from the University of Maiduguri where he studied History. Garba has attended several professional courses home and abroad including the first ever FIFA Win-in-With-Africa (WIWA) coaching course for national team coaches as well as 20 Premier League coaches in Nigeria last year. He was a former Nigerian youth international and captained El Kanemi Warriors to win the Nigeria Federation Cup twice in 1991 and 1992 before he retired to coaching. Apart from been part of the crew that delivered the Golden Eaglets’ third title in 2007, Manu was a gold winner at the 2001 Umbro International Football Tournament in Manchester. He led a school boys team to win the 2006 Shell Cup for All Nigeria Secondary School and was also a gold winner at the 2008 Pepsi International Football Championship held in Nigeria. EMMANUEL AMUNEKE: Former Super Eagles star and 1994 African Footballer of the Year serves as the team’s Assistant Coach 1. Regarded as one of the best players of his era, the former FC Barcelona star scored the brace that helped Nigeria beat Zambia 2-1 to win the African Cup of Nations in 1994. He was also the scorer of the winning goal when Nigeria beat Argentina 3-2 to win Africa’s first soccer gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He recently acquired the UEFA Pro-Licence after attending the mandatory course in Spain. NDUKA UGBADE: He can be likened to a renaissance man for Nigeria since he captained the Golden Eaglets to win the inaugural edition of the FIFA Under-16 World Cup at China in 1985. He was also in the historic Flying Eagles that won the Silver medal at the 1989 FIFA Under-20 Championship in Saudi Arabia. In fact, he was the scorer of the equalizer in that famous ‘Miracle of Damman’ match when Nigeria came from 4-0 to haul the defunct Soviet Union on penalty shootout after 4-4 in regulation time. He was in the 1994 African Cup of Nations winning team. He’s second Assistant Coach of the Golden Eaglets and a holder of Brazilian, UEFA and USA Professional Coaching certificates. EMEKA AMADI: He is the Golden Eaglets goalkeepers’ trainer. He was the hero for Nigeria when the Flying Eagles stopped the defunct Soviet Union (USSR) on penalty shoot in the semi-finals of the 1989 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Saudi Arabia where Nigeria eventually won the Silver medal. A graduate of Physical Education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Amadi apart from being a Montessori teacher at one point, was a goalkeeper in the German Oberliga with Hannover 96 as well as featuring for Tus Celle, S.V Nienlagen and FC Oberneuland in the regional Liga. BACKROOM OFFICIALS Tayo Egbaiyelo – Administrator Suleiman Abubakar - Team Coordinator Morakinyo Abodunrin - Media Officer Deji Olarinoye - Team doctor Gabriel Oyegunna – Physiotherapist Mohammed Kafa - Equipment Manager REMEMBER THESE … - Brazil went out in the quarter-finals, but not before their prolific triumvirate of Mosquito, Nathan and Boschilia had their time in sun, knocking in 15 of their side’s 19 goals between them. It took two moments of individual brilliance from Mexico goalkeeper Raul Gudino to shut their party down, when he saved two Brazil penalties during a quarter-final shoot-out. - It was a good night for Gudino, though the Mexican will be haunted by memories of Kelechi Iheanacho. The Nigeria forward put four past him in the opening group game between the two sides, and the African team’s rampant form did not desert them thereafter with Iheanacho’s midfield team-mate Musa Yahaya impressing in particular. Yahaya, who has spoken of his ambition to live up to his nickname-sake Iniesta, is one to watch for the future. - Sweden’s dream run in UAE comes courtesy of teamwork and a sterling group ethic, while striker Valmir Berisha’s excellent performances have courted comparisons with a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Slovakia, meanwhile, owe a huge debt to Tomas Vestenicky, whose five goals out of a team total of seven were instrumental in seeing the side through to their first ever Round of 16 spot. - No UAE 2013 highlight reel would be complete without footage of Uruguay’s three musketeers, Franco Acosta, Leandro Ortomin and Kevin Mendez, not to mention Joaquin Ibanez and Sebastian Driussi, the deadly duo from Argentina. Debutants Morocco can be justly proud of striker Younes Bnou Marzouk.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 14:14:14 +0000
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