By John Egbokhan
Coach John Obuh has said that his decision to invite 35 players from the local scene to camp next month was informed by the need to offer the invitees the final chance to make a push to be on the Flying Eagles squad to the African Youth Championships holding next March in Libya.

Coach John Obuh

Speaking to Sports Vanguard on the telephone, the former Eaglets manager said that the he opted to invite players who did not feature during the qualifying games for the AYC because of the need to further strengthen its team ahead of the main competition, which Nigeria hopes to use to qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia as well as win.

He said further that he was still searching for some players to fit into specific positions, pointing out that his young squad is still a work in progress.

“I am still searching but I cannot be too specific in public, so that I would not give myself away. I have a mission to present a good team which would make Nigeria proud at the AYC in Libya. It was deliberate on my part not to invite any player who featured during the qualifying series as I already know what to expect from them.

“This camping is to enable me discover one or two players who can offer tough opposition to the ones who played for us this year.

It is a chance of a lifetime for them and I wish them all the luck they need”, added Obuh, who led Sharks to WAFU Cup glory, at the weekend.

He expressed hope that the Nigeria Football Federation would give the green-light for the camping to start in the first or second week of January at a yet to be known venue.

“I have submitted my programme to the NFF and I am awaiting the go-ahead to kickoff the exercise”, Obuh said.

“We have no option but to move the event by one day after the Federal Government declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays. We cannot go contrary to the decision of Government”, said NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu.

Matters to be dealt with at the conclusive session include the presentation of the consolidated and revised balance sheet and the profit-and-loss statement, approval of the financial statements, approval of the budget (for Year 2011) and discussion of proposals submitted by the Members and the Executive Committee.