The House Committee on Sports has expressed disappoint-ment with the level of publicity for the FIFA U-17 Championship Nigeria 2009 which kicks off tomorrow.

GOLDEN Eaglets coach, John Obuh has begged Nigerians not treat them like the Green Eagles. “We know that Nigerians are angry over bad results of national teams. But we beg them not to boo us in our opening match against Germany”, Coach John Obuh pleaded.

As Nigeria begin their title defence of the FIFA Under-17 Cup tomorrow at the Abuja National Stadium, Golden Eaglets tactician, John Obuh is putting his hopes on God for a successful outing by his side.

Captain of the Golden Eaglets, Fortune Chukwudi has said that the team would draw a lot of inspiration from the victory of the Ghanaian U-20 football team over Brazil when they take on the rest of the world in the FIFA U-17 World Cup beginning in Nigeria October 24.

By the time the first ball is kicked between defending Champions Nigeria and Germany, Nigeria would have shot into FIFA’s books as the first country to host a ‘shambolic’ FIFA U-17 World Cup. The country that before now commands so much respect from the world soccer-governing body to have won the inaugural FIFA/JVC U-16 World Cup in Beijing, China in 1985 would dent that record after hosting the tourney.

Ahead of the commencement of the FIFA under-17 football tournament this weekend in Nigeria, the Police high command in Abuja said yesterday that it has put up a water tight security network nationwide to ensure a smooth and safe hosting of the global sports fiesta.

Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF) Youth Soccer Academy has called for the support of Nigerians in their quest to churn out talents for the future use of the country.

commotion at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, venue of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup yesterday morning, as hefty-looking men(mostly body builders), engaged as stewards to provide security during matches protested the N20,000, approved as honorarium for each of them for the duration of the competition at the Lagos centre.

The Brazilian team for the Nigeria 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Lagos sparked some excitement amongst football fans who witnessed their arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport last night.

There was a carnival like atmosphere at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday evening as cultural dance troupes welcomed the Nigeria U-17 team, Golden Eaglets, to the city where they will start the defence of their FIFA U-17 World Cup title on Saturday.

The health condition of football players across the globe has received the attention of the World football governing body, FIFA.
FIFA recently held a 2-day medical conference to promote the health of players in Zurich.

Honduras’ leader of delegation to Nigeria 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup declared on arrival that his boys will not be weeping boys of group A

In preparation for the Nigeria 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup competition which comes up from October 24 to November 15, 2009, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in the pursuit of its mandate to boost power supply towards attaining 6000MW by December, 2009 will make concerted efforts to minimize power interruptions during the competition.

Globacom Limited, the Official National Supporter and Telecommunications Provider to the FIFA U-17 World Cup, has said seamless and hitch-free telecommunications services will be available to members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and FIFA officials during the tournament.

After our lead story on the impending doom on the FIFA Under 17 World Cup billed to start in Abuja on Saturday, many Local Organising Committee (LOC) sources volunteered information on the reasons for the poor organisation even the world football governing body has noted. Lack of funds has been the major problem.