This Day (Lagos)
Pius Ayinor
2 November 2009
Lagos — The United Arab Emirates have attributed their modest success so far at the on going U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009 to the invaluable tips offered to the team by former Super Eagles stalwart, Daniel Amokachi.
Amokachi who is now an assistant coach with the Nigerian national team once had a short though unsuccessful playing stint in the Emirates in the early 2002 where he could not tie down a contract because of a career threatening injury.
The UAE achieved an unprecedented feat in the annals of FIFA tournament when it advanced to the round of 16 of the FIFA U- 17 World Cup as one of the best qualifiers on the basis of Fair play points, at the expense of both Brazil and the Netherlands, with whom it tied on points and goal difference.
In the frenzy of the celebration that trailed their progress after their 1-0 Group E loss to USA in Ijebu Ode on Sunday, the UAE team paid adulation to Amokachi saying his tips about lifestyle in Nigeria have proved crucial to the team's U-17 World Cup campaign.
"We are in position of advantage on how to prosecute the campaign having received invaluable tips before we left the Emirates from Amokachi. He told us many things about Nigeria before hand which are very helpful" admitted UAE's assistant coach Al Alfri.
Instructively, the UAE played two of their Group matches in northern Nigerian city of Kano, a town which about two hours away from Kaduna where Amokachi resides.
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