BY JACOB AJOM, Algeria
Flying Eagles coach, John Obuh has said hé would not take his players to the slaughter slab because they lost to Egypt in the semi final of the 2013 African Youth Championship on Tuesday in Ain Temouchent, Algeria.

In à post match chat with Sports Vanguard at Éden hotel, Oran, the coach said, “I would not say I was totally disappointed in this tournament because, we at least, qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup holding in Istanbul, Turkey later this year. There are so many problems that really need urgent attention and it is only when you are on course that you will be able to correct those problems.

“If we had not qualified, we would not have been in a position to correct those problems. We have really seen our mistakes and they came up again today(Tuesday) as this match would have been wrapped up in the first half.

We were not able to get it done just because of attitude and tactical indiscipline as displayed by a few of my players. Thank God, like I said, we are still on course; we will deal with those problems appropriately.”

The loss to Egypt, a team the Flying Eagles defeated 3-0 in a pre-tournament tune up match, right in Cairo has more than ever, called for radical steps to bring the team back on stream.

Obuh agreed entirely. “Definitely,” he started, “there are bound to be changes. It is not going to be business as usual because if you leave it to the players who are here, you will not get anything serious from them. We have to look out for some people who will come and help fortify the team.

If I find people who are more tactically disciplined than the ones I have at the moment, there is no reason why I would not take them. This is nobody’s home where you do what you like. They have really tried their best but they need to step up their game,” Obuh said.