Stories by Albert Akota
The camp of the U-17 Women National Team, Flamingoes, erupted in joy yesterday after NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, announced that the Federation had decided to increase their allowances and match bonus by one hundred percent.
While on a visit to the team’s Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuye, Abuja yesterday, on his way to a special meeting with CAF President Issa Hayatou in Cairo, Maigari charged the girls to go all out and do,Nigeria proud at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals taking place in Costa Rica from 15th March – 4th April.
“Only yesterday, our dear leader, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR pledged even more support for sportsmen and women vying to bring glory to Nigeria. And as you are also aware, every individual or team that lifted the name of the nation in one way or the other has been honoured by President Jonathan.
“The NFF charges you to concentrate very well and be focused during your final training camp and to pay attention to the instructions of your Coaches. That is the only route to success in Costa Rica. I have faith that after your final training programme, you will be well prepared to lift the World Cup trophy.”
The Flamingoes are now scheduled to depart Nigeria through Abuja today, aboard a Lufthansa Airline flight, for a 19-day training camp at the Browns Sport and Leisure Club in Faro, Portugal.
Already, the Nigeria Football Federation has secured a top grade friendly for the team, with the U-17 Women National Team of Belgium, to be played in Brussels on Tuesday, 4th March. A number of games with some clubs in Portugal are also on the line.
The team will return to Faro from Brussels and then fly from Madrid, Spain to San Jose, capital of Costa Rica, on 12th March, with their first match of the tournament against China on 16th March.
