The FIFA Technical Study Group member charged his countrymen to put the U-17 team campaigning in the United Arab Emirates in their prayers
Former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh walked into the Golden Eaglets locker room to counsel and pray for the budding youngsters after their 2-0 over Uruguay on Saturday in Sharjah.
Speaking on the team’s impressive performance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013, Oliseh who is on the Technical Study Group (TSG) said the players deserve commendation but warned them against complacency.
“Working with FIFA, you have made me very proud because of your playing style and overall conduct in this competition,” Oliseh said.
“But be that as it may, I don’t want you to start counting because nobody remembers the team that comes second next day except the champions.”
Oliseh said the Golden Eaglets should not regard themselves as favourite yet to lift the trophy despite playing some of the best matches at this championship.
“You don’t start counting until the battle is won and I want you to learn from a team like Brazil who are already out of the competition because they started counting before the job was done.”
The two-time World Cup star further warned the players against complacency even as he charged them to pay attention to instruction from ‘the most competent Under-17 coaching crew.’
“In my village, we were told that you cannot be dancing and look at your buttocks,” Oliseh said philosophically.
“What that means is that you need to listen to your coaches because they are the ones that can look at your back while you on the pitch playing,” he added.
He later offered prayers asking God to bless their budding careers as well as all efforts towards the team’s success at the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013.
SOurce:Goal.com
