|
|
Nigeria: Chinwo Misses Flight As U-23 Depart for Korea
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
This Day (Lagos)
15 July 2008
Posted to the web 16 July 2008
Femi Atoyebi
Lagos
Nigeria's Under-23 football team yesterday departed for Gwangyang, Korea aboard Qatar airline with promises that the nation will be well represented at football event of the forthcoming Beijing Olympic Games next month.
However, a member of the squad, Kennedy Chinwo, who was recalled at the last minute by coach Samson Siasia was unable to make the flight as he arrived few minutes after the team had embarked. He was among the players dropped from the provisional 26 team list by the coach but fate smiled on the Lyn Oslo-bound star when Siasia had a second thought. According to him, an alternative plan is in place for him to join the team in Korea today.
Full of hope and bustling with confidence, Siasia said the team will try its best to emulate the Atlanta Olympics feat achieved by the first Dream Team which won gold.
"Every coach wants to do well at every competition. We have put up efforts to arrive at where we are now. Our next target is to do well in Beijing and do Nigeria proud. A lot of teams aspire for the best position and Nigeria will not be left behind," said the coach. The final list will be released after the final screening in Korea.
Reacting to his late call up, Chinwo said he was on his way to Port Harcourt when Siasia called him and ordered him to join the team at the airport. He said he received the news with enthusiasm and he looked forward to making the final list.
"I will say thank you to the coach for reconsidering me. I know it is not easy to make the team and as well, it is not easy for him to make the decision. He called me on phone on my way to Port Harcourt but it was too late for me to travel at the time and meet up with them."
Chinwo, who said no reason was given for his withdrawal and recall, said making the finalist would be a fulfilment of his dream to play at all level.
"I was to travel to Lyn Oslo in Norway from Moldova where I played for FC Sheriff before coach Siasia called me. He said if I proceed to Norway, I would miss the camping so I came to Nigeria and joined the team. I love serving Nigeria. I have played at the U-17 and U-21 levels, playing for the Dream Team will fulfil my dream, then I can now think of the senior national team. I am sure that I will eventually make the team in Korea before going to Beijing and look forward to the big stage at the Olympics."
Speaking further, Chinwo said Beijing could offer him better opportunity than Oslo.
"If luck shines on me at the Olympics, I could drop Lyn Olso for a bigger team if the offer comes, but for now, Lyn is waiting for me."
The other players that were on the flight to Korea were goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Ambrose Vanzekin. Others are Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Isaac Promise, Solomon Okoronkwo, Apam Onyekachi, Obinna Nsofor, Sani Kaita, Victor Anichebe, Solomon Abwo, Oluwafemi Ajilore, Chinedu Obasi, Chibuzo Okonkwo, Ayodele Adeleye, Osadebamwen Okoro, Ambrose Efe, John Owoeri, Osaze Odemwingie, Emmanuel Ekpo, Olubayo Adefemi, Olufemi Oladapo, Gege Soriola, Bernard Okorowanta, Monday James, Yinka Adedeji, Ikechukwu Uche and Taiye Taiwo.
Enyeama, Uche and Odemwingie are the over-aged players Siasia is banking on to use their experience to gnarer the altimate prize for the country next month.
|
Nigeria will face Holland, Japan and USA in the tournament with her first match against the Dutch on August 7
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
