Super Eagles’ Coordinator, Pascal Patrick (MON) has praised the several efforts of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in ensuring the comfort of players, coaches and other officials of the team, with particular reference to travelling and accommodation arrangements.

The NFF has sustained a habit of chartering aircrafts for the senior national team for away matches, and ex –international player Pascal believes the Amaju Pinnick –led NFF deserves encomiums for this in the face of financial constraints.

“The truth is that the NFF must be commended for the travelling arrangements that make things so easy for our players. Coming here to Ouagadougou, we flew in a comfortable jet for less than two hours from Port Harcourt.

“If we had to travel by regular flight, we would have spent days on the road and players would complain of fatigue as we transited from one place to the other. The NFF arrangements deserve praise.”

Patrick, also vice chairman of the Bauchi State Football Association, played at various times for Wikki Tourists, Shooting Stars of Ibadan, the U-23 National Team and the Super Eagles and is highly schooled on the physical and mental exertions of travelling by regular flights.

“Whoever says the Amaju Pinnick –led NFF has not done very well is only being mischievous. I experienced first –hand what it means to travel by regular flights and getting to the opposition venue much fatigued. The story has changed.

“Even the Burkinabes had to move this second leg match to Sunday because after playing in Nigeria on Saturday, they had to spend three days or so before returning to their country through some other routes. Certainly, we must give praise to whom it is due.”

Since coming on board, the Amaju Pinnick –led NFF has chartered airplanes to fly the Super Eagles to matches in Sudan, Congo Brazzaville, South Africa, Tanzania and now Burkina Faso, not to talk of changing sub –standard hotels and buses offered by host FAs whenever the need arose.

For the match in Ouagadougou, the NFF’s protestations compelled the Federation Burkinabe de Foot-Ball to change the Super Eagles’ accommodation from Hotel Pacific to the more presentable Palace Hotel. NFF also opposed a plan to change the kick –off time of Sunday’s qualifier to 3.30pm, instead of the 4pm sent to the NFF by the FBF.

Author: NFF Admin