Juliana Taiwo
13 November 2009
Abuja — The Chairman of the Technical Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi says Nigeria will not be deceived by the crisis in the coaching crew of the Harambee Stars of Kenya ahead of tomorrow's last qualifier with Super Eagles.
The NFF chief said he was mindful of antics that could be employed by teams at any given time to dislodge their opponents in crucial matches like the one coming up in Kasarani Sports Complex in Nairobi this weekend.
He acknowledged that the news coming from the Kenyan camp shows there is indeed confusion but did not rule out the possibility of the Kenyans trying to deceive Nigerians in their desperate search of one of the tickets to the continent's biggest soccer fiesta in Angola.
Ogunjobi maintained that the game would be taken very seriously adding that the boys are focused and desire to be in South Africa. "This is the only motivator we are travelling with. That our players want to be part of the global football fiesta in South Africa next year as participants is the biggest motivation one can boast of and that gives us on the board the confidence that by the grace of God we will return with the ticket to the World Cup."
The ex international dispelled speculations that there was squabble between the Presidential Task Force and the NFF insisting that the two bodies were working for one purpose, which is to clinch the World Cup ticket for the country. He however noted that the decision to charter a separate aircraft for the team was not as a result of quarrel but that the NFF believes the best way to allow these players concentrate was by separating them from the numerous fans that will be travelling in the other aircraft to support the team.
He maintained that the crucial nature of the match does not give room for any form of mistakes and to be on a safer side, the team must avoid all kind of distraction because "We need total concentration to get result."
The Technical Committee Chairman further disclosed that the game in Maputo between the Mambas of Mozambique and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia currently leading the group is even more important to Nigeria than the one in Nairobi because it could go a long way to decide the final standing.
He noted that the NFF would surely be represented in Maputo to monitor the proceedings arguing that the country is aware that anything could happen but would not give room for any situation to get out of hand.
The team left yesterday night from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja aboard a chartered Chanchangi Airline. They landed in Nairobi in the early hours of today and have some work out, play tomorrow and head home after the match.
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