By Ben EFE
Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi indicated that the team will make Calabar the Cross River capital, their home ground if all goes well for them in their World Cup qualifier against Namibia on Sunday.

The Nigeria Football Federation settled for Calabar incontestably, Nigeria’s cleanest and greenest City after considering a variety of choices for the Eagles’ home games. This was after Keshi rejected the idea of playing on synthetic pitches scattered across major soccer friendly cities in Nigeria including Lagos, which Keshi wanted as home for the Eagles.

“Let’s wait and see if Calabar will be good for us. If everything goes on well here for us why not we will stay put,” said Keshi on arrival on last Sunday.

He reiterated his disapproval of artificial playing surfaces, which became the norm after Nigeria won the hosting right for the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. It is only Kaduna, Abuja, Ibadan and Calabar that maintained natural playing turfs in most of the football venues in the country.

Cross River commissioner for sports, Mr. Patrick Ugbe who was on hand to receive the Eagles to Calabar stated that the Eagles will find Calabar a comforting city and he is looking forward to seeing them playing all their home games at the 10, 000 capacity U.J Esuene stadium in Calabar.

“We are going to give them the best of hospitality and I’m sure they will remain here and play the rest of their games.

“Cross River is a sports destination. The Eaglets are here and after seeing what is on ground they have decided to stay here and play all their matches,” Ugbe said in Calabar.