Nigeria 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup Begins
By Christian Okpara Lagos, Adamu Abuh Kano, and Ezeocha Nzeh Abuja
FROM today to November 15, the best Under-17 players from all over the world will gather in eight centres across Nigeria for the 13th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Already all the big wigs of the world football governing body, FIFA, have arrived in Nigeria for the competition, which the body regards as the most important in its calendar.
This is a competition that sheds light on the future of world football and FIFA ensures that the young players are given the conducive atmosphere to take their first steps in international.
The competition, won two years ago by Nigeria in South Korea, has thrown up so many fantastic players, including Kanu Nwankwo, Celestine Babayaro, Kaka, Adriano, Ronaldinho, Michael Owen, Thierry Henry, among others, that have gone ahead to bestrode the world soccer scene since its inception in 1985.
Preparing to host this competition has by no means been an easy task for Nigeria. But FIFA yesterday acknowledged that the hosts have outdone itself in putting together what promises to be one of the best cadet competitions in recent times.
In total, 504 players have been called up to show their worth - and vie to take up the baton from illustrious former participants, Iker Casillas, Michael Essien and Luis Figo?
The youngsters in Nigeria are nothing like as celebrated as their predecessors, of course, but some have already rubbed shoulders with the finest talents in the game by earning first-team experience despite their tender age. Even that is unlikely to rival the pressures they are about to face, however. "They know their obligations and they know that the national shirt sits heavy on the shoulders," FIFA quotes 1986 FIFA World Cup winner and current Argentina U-17 coach Jose Luis Brown.
Brown's boys will get the tournament up and running against Group A rivals Honduras in a game that would not be out of place in the semi-finals, proof that the competition is likely to be engrossing right from the opening whistle. Runners-up on the South American stage and serious candidates to go all the way, the young Albicelestes must nonetheless face 2007 bronze medallists and recent European champions Germany in their section. And if that were not challenging enough, their final group opponents are another team heavily backed to take the title - reigning champions, hosts and three-time winners Nigeria.
As for Brazil, they will go into the tournament eager to clinch their fourth title at this level, having previously prevailed in 1997, 1999 and 2003. They will also be keen to erase memories of their last two appearances, which ended in defeat to Mexico in the 2005 final and a Round-of-16 loss to Nigeria last time out. Spearheading the Sele¨ao bid will be fearsome duo Neymar and Philippe Coutinho, who have already captured the imagination of the Brazilian public and given future opponents a stark warning thanks to their displays in the Brazilian top flight.
Lastly, a surprise of sorts could come from Gambia, though as two-time African champions at this level, it would be far from a shock to see them prosper. Enjoying a football renaissance at the moment, Algeria could also go far, and both they and Gambia will undoubtedly acclimatise themselves to the hot and humid Nigerian conditions ahead of their rivals.
As a country with a fervent love of the game, Nigeria looks likely to be the perfect venue for this festival of football. Thousands of fans travelled to follow the Golden Eaglets in Korea Republic two years ago and their noisy, playful support clearly lifted the team coached by Yemi Tella, who has since passed away. Those same supporters are doubtless readying themselves to fill the stands and cheer on the stars of the future, with Abuja, Bauchi, Calabar, Enugu, Ijebu-Ode, Kaduna, Kano and Lagos the eight cities selected to welcome the 24 trophy hopefuls.
There are some countries that are so football-crazy that a match involving any of their national teams is enough to set off a wave of hysteria. With Nigeria firmly among this select group, just imagine the fervour supplied by over 100 million Nigerians as they prepare to cheer on their countrymen at the FIFA U-17 World Cup on home soil. Do the Golden Eaglets have broad enough shoulders to handle the pressure?
Forty-eight hours before his team makes its bow in the tournament, coach John Obu knows what his fellow Nigerians are expecting from the young squad. "We all wanted to host this tournament, and now that we have been given this honour, we can't go complaining about the extra pressure on the players," he said at a press conference held in the Abuja National Stadium, where his team will be playing on Saturday. "We are a footballing nation, we know that we will have the support of the whole country and we don't want to let them down.
"This team is the cornerstone of the future Nigerian team, and let me assure you that they are ready to live up to this responsibility," said the man who took over the coaching reins only a few months ago following Alphonsus Dike and Henry Nwosu departing in quick succession. "We have a reputation to uphold, we are playing at home and our build-up has been excellent, so there's three reasons for optimism."
Optimism is indeed the order of the day after Nigeria notched no fewer than 21 goals in a mere three practice matches during their recent training camp in Qatar. Heartland FC's Stanley Okoro, who scored three goals in the CAF Champions League and helped his club to make it through to the final of that competition, is the man the Golden Eaglets will be relying on up front. Also on form is Omuh Ojabu, who scored whopping five goals in a 14-1 warm-up win over Qatari Sports Club.
That said, Obu and his youngsters know that they will be playing a team made of altogether sterner stuff on Saturday evening in front of 60,000 fans. "Germany have a reputation, a style, a tradition and a team that we know all about," he warned.
"Whenever you play them, whatever the age group or tournament, you always know what to expect. The Germany teams of today and the future are no different from the ones of the past - they will fight until the last minute. But we're ready for this tournament and we hope to prove that right from the kick-off."
One of the core issues at the heart of FIFA's concern for this competition was the security of teams and fans coming to Nigeria for the competition.
But such fears seem to have been allayed with the deployment of a large number of securitymen to police the venues and their environs throughout the three weeks of the tournament.
In most of the host cities, the Federal Government has put up a strong security presence to scare away any intending troublemaker from venues during the competition.
No fewer than 7,600 officers and men of the Nigeria police force would be positioned at strategic locations to keep the peace while the U17 world youth tournament last in the ancient city of Kano.
Kano is one the centers billed to host the tournament billed to commence at the weekend at the Sani Abacha stadium
This was made known by Assistant police commissioner, Hafiz Muhammad Inuwa who is also the LOC chairman on security for the Fifa Under-17 World Youth Championship for the Kano center.
Among areas policemen would be deployed to are the Sani Abacha and Pillars stadia, and designated hospitals, and hotels, which would accommodate players, officials and participants of the tournament.
Hafiz who spoke to reporters at the Bompai headquarters of the Kano police command warned hawkers to steer clear of the stadium or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.
For spectators, he said they would be fully screened to ensure they are not in possession of any harmful object. Promising to ensure free flow of traffic around the stadium and elsewhere in the city, he called on the general public to exhibit high level of discipline while the tournament last in Kano.
