By Albert Akota
Ahead of this year’s SATUC U-15 5-a-side World Cup scheduled for Morocco from April 13 to 19, defending champions John Utaka Foundation has selected eight players that will represent the Nigerian side in the third edition of the competition dedicated to orphans and disadvantaged children.
The eight players according to the John Utaka Foundation team coordinator, Usman Chata, were selected after two phases of camping in Minna, Niger state with 30 in the first phase and 10 in the second phase.
The eight players selected will move into closed camping early March for final preparation ahead of their 2020 SATUC U-15 5-a-side World Cup in Morocco.
The eight players are Odoh Richard from Enugu State, Ibrahim Hussain (Kaduna) Salau Mohammed Abidemi (Kwara), Oluseyi Abolaji Kadaolo (Ogun), Umar Mujahid Haruna (Kogi) Manuga Farouk Aliyu, Abubakar Mohammed Hassan and Alfa Abubakar Sadeeq all from Niger State.
“We are hoping to successfully defend the trophy we won in 2018 in Bulgaria with the quality of players we have selected and the rigorous training they are going through. I know it will be tougher this time, but we are confident of retaining our trophy,” the John Utaka Foundation team coordinator stated.
Already five countries including maiden edition winners Egypt, Brazil, England, Nigeria and host Morocco have confirmed their participation for the third edition of SATUC U-15 5-a-Side World Cup – a 16-Nation tournament slated for Tizniz in Morocco.
