Leadership (Abuja)
Isah
8 November 2009
Abuja — Korea Republic's players looked a little bemused to see throngs of local fans lining the fence at their late-afternoon training session on Saturday. "We had a bit of a rough start, but we are getting better with every game we play.
This is a very good sign." Nigeria player Stanley Okoro "They are such amazing players, they have so much quality," 13-year-old Victor Amah, a member of Calabar's famous National Youth Soccer Academy, told FIFA.com as he looked on. "We'll win 6-0 on Monday," the young Benue native exclaimed, casting a sympathetic eye toward the setting sun over the training Koreans. "Korea are pretty good, but our Eaglets are strong," he adds, turning his head slightly left to consider his Nigerian idols. Young Victor and his friends at the Academy are desperate to follow in the footsteps of these U-17 Eaglets, who begin their second training session of the day singing a Nigerian gospel standard in unison and turning their eyes upward to the purple-pink of the darkening sky. "Of course, every young man in the country wants to pull on the green of the national team.
This is my dream," continues Amah. "Calabar is a special place," says Stanley Okoro, one of Nigeria's true stars at these world finals, taking a break from the session and the ever-watchful eye of coach John Obuh. "I spent four years here and just look at what the fans are doing and the love they are showing us. It's incredible." Okoro, with two goals so far, has been an absolute gem in an advanced midfield position, helping the host Nigerians to the quarter-finals with a smashing performance in the 5-0 rout of New Zealand in the round of 16. Originally from Edo State, Okoro moved to Calabar when he was young Victor's age to study his football at the very same Youth Academy, a premier destination for aspiring Nigerian footballers. "We had a bit of a rough start," Okoro admits, the smile that spread across his face when talking about Calabar fading into sudden seriousness. "But we are getting better with every game we play. This is a very good sign," adds the Heartland FC ace. "And in our first game in Calabar we want to get a good result and put on a show for the great fans in this city," the No8 says, his eyes drifting toward the Korean players as they gather their belongings and drive off, largely unnoticed, into the night.
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