By Meletus EZE
Football fans in Delta have described Tuesday’s friendly between the Super Eagles and the Cranes of Uganda in Asaba as an impressive outing.
The football enthusiasts said that they were not disappointed at the goalless draw by the teams.
They added that the teams had an impressive and superlative play which outcome was expected.
They said that the Eagles gave a good account of themselves, considering their previous encounter with the Cranes.
The fans said with good technical touch on the Nigerian team, there was the possibility of wining the CAF championship in Cameroon in 2019.
They also said that the Stephen Kashi Stadium, which had become a uniting factor in the state, would help to build the youth and create opportunity for the people of Delta and Anabmra to exercise and relax.
The fans also lauded the state governor for building the 23,000 capacity stadium which had become a growth pole connecting various investments in the state, particularly in Asaba.
Mr Kennedy Onwunali said “looking at the game, the teams play similar style of football, have same physic and remember the last time they came to Nigeria, they defeated us by two goals to nil.
“Now, the Super Eagles are conscious not to allow a repeat of what happened, so they played as a team in the second half.
“The Ugandan team is good but I give it to Nigeria and I am sure if it had been a qualifier match, we would have seen a different pattern of game.
“If this Nigerian team is kept together, it will go far in the 2019 CAF in Cameroon.
“On the stadium. I give kudos to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for his commitment and efforts to build a stadium of this capacity, I have been to several stadia as a football enthusiast, this stadium is fantastic.”
According to Dr Godwin Edozie, “our boys gave a good account of themselves, they played very well; it is just that the Ugandans came with a plan to get a draw and they got it.
“I am not in anyway disappointed about the many scoring chances that the Eagles failed to covert because they are professionals and you cannot wish it away, it is eleven men versus eleven.
“The friendly is to help us locate that striker that would handle and strike the ball behind the net and I believe we will get there by God’s grace.
“And for the crowd, they behaved very well and had supported the home team and that is commendable.
“I think that this stadium should have more of such activities and we appreciate the governor for giving us in Delta and Anambra this opportunity to watch the Super Eagles play”.
He said that sports was uniting the people and the youth were being engaged and no longer talking about crimes because a stadium like this creates lots of opportunities for everybody.
“And again a lot of our youths are going to pick interest in sports and make a career out of it. so, the stadium is a growth pole, an investment that galvanizes other investments.
“So, the hotels are smiling, our transporters are rejoicing and the petty traders are busy making brisk business and gains from selling their wares and the economy of the state is bubbling.
“That is what we see in the growth pole, the Asaba Airport is busy and in fact I was told that more than 12 flights came in today, this is good because all roads lead to Asaba and this will directly impact on South-South and South East,” he said.
He said activities in the stadium were also helping the security officials, particularly in the area of crowd management.
“We commend the governor; this is making us happy and we have to advise our children to explore opportunities in sports.
He said as a state, the government was already in the forefront with the Principal and the Headmaster’s cup in Delta,” Edozie said.
Mr Franklin Oba said that Eagles did very well, though tried but not successful at breaking the strong defence of the Ugandan team.
“If the technical unit is mindful of what they are doing, I see Nigeria making good progress in the CAF companionship in Cameroon.
“On the stadium, this is the first in this region and the best, it is a uniting factor and we have never had it this good. so, I give kudos to the governor.”
He advised the Eagles to work on their defence to enable them to fight hard to win the CAF championship.
Mr Emna Dodo said that the teams played well and the Ugandans were technical in doing what they had come to do.
“This crowd here today is fantastic; it even shows that this stadium is too small for the activities that take place here because the people are sports loving and enthusiastic, so we have to find a way to increase the capacity,” he said.
Chief Peter Oliko said that the two teams, being group leaders and having qualified for the CAF competition for Cameroon, were tough.
“So, we expect the match will go this way,” Oliko said.
