Eko 2012 Special: Lagos, Cross River, in soccer gold chase… Erico speaks

By Ben Efe

Former Eagles’assistant coach, Joe Erico has been thrown into an emotional spin as Lagos State takes on Cross River State in the final of the 18th National Sports Festival football  event that will be decided today at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.

The veteran coach who was also a former goal keeper of the national team hails from Cross River, but he has been offering technical advise to the Lagos team. Erico said that the prospect of playing against his home State for the prestigious soccer gold has been giving him goose pimples.

“My heart is with Cross River, but I want Lagos to win. I have been working with Lagos for a long time now and so naturally I want to them to get the gold.

“ I have a lot of respect for the Cross River team. They are very young and enterprising, and you know that during my time as coach that is what I have always craved for.

“However, it is only after 90 minutes of football that we can really tell who the winner is,” said the coach respected for the flair the teams he coached had Cross River coached by Ntiero Effiong edged out Delta State in a thrilling semi-final. Cross River won 7-6 after a pro-longed penalty shoot-out. Lagos equally had a tempestuous semi-final against Kwara State.