The Board, management, players and coaches of Kwara United Football Club yesterday celebrated one of the players, Emmanuel John, who was part of the Golden Eaglets team that won the West African Football Union (WAFU) U-17 Championship last week.
Nigeria lost 3-2 in the final of the competition to their Cote-D’Ivoire counterparts, to settle for silver, and a ticket for the Africa Junior Championship.
While receiving the defender yesterday after the team’s training at the Main-Bowl of the Kwara State Stadium Complex, the Chairman, Kumbi Titiloye commended Emmanuel for been a great ambassador of the team.
He also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the technical crew of the team for ensuring that fair selection was employed, in picking the team.
He said that the team will continue to encourage it’s players to put in their best at every giving oportunity, both at the club and the national team’s.
It would be recalled that Kwara United’s trio of Chris Nwanze, Olawale Farayola and Isaiah Ejeh were part of the last U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, for the African Championship.
The Chairman decorated the player with his silver medal.
In his reaction, Emmanuel John commended the team and the technical crew of the national team for giving him the opportunity to wear the national colours.
‘I feel great. I never expected such an opportunity. It was a great experience, and I have learnt a lot’, he said.
The former Arsenal Kiddies player thanked Kwara United coaches, led by Coach Abdullahi Usman Biffo for putting him in good shape technically, to be able to cope with the challenges at the national team.
He pledged to step up his build up, especially ahead of future challenges.