Under-17 national team, Golden Eaglets’ coach, Manu Garba has reacted swiftly and looks set to come out with alternative options, following the injuries copped by his first choice goalkeeper and reliable right-back.
Sports247.ng learnt that Garba was hit with the double-blow late last week, but the UAE 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning coach has taken the development in his stride.
Rather than bow under pressure, the ex-Wikki Tourist of Bauchi handler quickly started making plans for alternatives in the squad, before they head out to next month’s UEFA Assist U17 International in Turkey.
The Eaglets begin their campaign at the UEFA event against Senegal on Tuesday, March 5 before facing Montenegro on March 7 and then lock horns with Angola on March 9.
The team, though, will be without reliable right-back, Oluwatimilehin Adeniyi, who started all matches in the WAFU Zone B Africa U-17 Cup of Nations qualifiers and scored in a 5-1 win against Cote d’Ivoire, as he got a serious injury in training.
Manu also admitted that he needs another keeper to provide cover for John Ikedinachukwu Amah, but said he saw a lot of improvements during their last friendly, as the Eaglets hit Ambassador Academy of Lagos 10-0.
He expatiated: ”The only place we are still looking for is the goalkeeping position, for the right back we have seen some few players.
”Defense, we are fully covered. We still need very good goalkeepers to support the number one.
”We are seeing improvements, especially from new boys in camp, we were able to give chances to new boys.
”By seeing such boys, we are going to bring a lot of them to camp to fight for positions by the time we come back from Turkey.
”The main reason of going to Turkey is to give us an insight on how our opponents will play.
“By the time we see them, we will be able to know how we can approach them by the time we go to Tanzania.
”It is not a disadvantage going to Turkey because everybody will see each other, that’s why everybody has to backup its strategy.
”We are at an advantage because a lot of new boys here will make the team to Tanzania and not go there.”
