Nigeria’s U-17 side, Golden Eaglets, have settled down at their pre-tournament close camp upon arrival in Katsina at the weekend, even as the coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led side were handed a zero-tolerance-for-indiscipline message ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015.
The World Cup -bound Eaglets began routine training in earnest on Monday at the Karkanda Stadium in Katsina with much of the morning session geared towards players’ conditioning and physical fitness
while there was serious ball work in Monday’s evening and Tuesday’s sessions.
Amuneke, who also featured by playing along his wards in the exercise, said the response of his Eaglets on the opening two days is encouraging, stressing that the hard work has just begun: “We are here for
business and you must be ready to do your best and conduct yourselves because only 21 players would eventually be picked for the World Cup in Chile.”
Meanwhile, the team has been given a set of internal code of conduct in order to enhance team discipline on and off the field. The team’s no-nonsense Coordinator, Prince Udofia, said discipline is sacrosanct, adding there are sanctions already put in place for any erring player or official.
“The technical crew in line with the Nigeria Football (NFF) directives would not condone any undisciplined conduct and the players have been told in clear terms that discipline is not negotiable,” said Udofia, who explained that players and officials were already conversant with the camp rules as well as punishment attached to specific offenses.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 will be held between October 17 and November 8 and the Golden Eaglets have been drawn in Group A with host Chile, Croatia and USA.