We have what it takes to beat Korea, says Obuh

The Coach of the Golden Eaglets, John Obuh is confident that his boys will beat Korea in Calabar today where both teams are fighting for the semi-final ticket in the on going FIFA U-17 World Championship.

Speaking in Abuja over the weekend, Obuh said “We are well prepared for it just like we did for the other games before now. Our boys are focused for the remaining matches in the competition. They appreciate the importance of those matches. They are in very high spirit and most important is the fact that we do not have any injury worries in the team. Having said that, I think we are prepared to do our best to give Nigerians something to cheer. At the same time we are appealing to Nigerians to pray for us.”

Monitoring Korea

Obuh added that he now knows the strengths and weaknesses of the Korean team. “We have studied the video tapes of the Koreans matches. Whatever tips I have is not for public consumption. So I cannot disclose my match plans on the pages of newspapers. The only thing I can tell you is that the Koreans are very fast on the ball and we are going to take good care of them,” he said.

Obuh revealed that his confidence is built on the capacity of his team: “We have a good team that is capable of lifting the trophy. After the match against Germany, they have continued to grow in confidence. They express themselves better on the pitch and play for each other. This is not one being over confident. It is not about underrating our opponents. It is about a team well determined, committed and prepared to excel. We take the games as they come, hoping to go one game after the other until we achieve our dream. This is my desire and I pray to God to help us achieve it.”

The elephant in the room

Obuh is so focused on winning this cup that he will not comment on allegations that some of his players, especially team captain Fortune Chwukwudi, are over-aged. “No comment. I don’t want to make any comment about that,” he said. “We are cool and calm on the field that they can do well. My target right from the beginning was to win the FIFA U-17 Championship, circumstance or no circumstance.

“I know I have a collection of good players in the team who are ready to give their best and who are also hard-working and determined. We are also well focused towards achieving that objective.”

Even with the MRI test that claimed as many as 16 of his players before the start of the championship? “FIFA owns the championship,” Obuh replied, defiant. “They put the rules in place and one had to abide by it. So I have no objection to that.”

He denies any negative effects from that action. “I don’t think it had any negative effect on the team. Instead it helped us to fish out real U-17 players who will in future become the bed rock of the senior national team. Remember too that FIFA had emphasised so much on age group competitions.”