Victor Moses, Ameobi
talk up victory
ngland-based stars Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi have said on arrival in Abuja they hope to win in Ethiopia in Sunday’s World Cup playoff.
Moses and Ameobi were among the late arrivals at the Super Eagles training camp in Abuja on Wednesday.
Moses, who is on loan to Liverpool from Chelsea, told sports men he expects the African champions to grind a result in Addis Ababa on Sunday.
“Ethiopia are a very good side. They play good football at the last AFCON in South Africa but our aim as professional football players is to go get a result from Addis Ababa. We will be going for a victory but in worse case a draw and hopefully finish the job in Nigeria,” he predicted.
He insisted he does not expect the local conditions in Ethiopia, from a bumpy pitch to the high altitude, to work against the star-studded Eagles.
“We are Africa players and we understand the terrain, so I don’t think their bumpy pitch would be a problem for our team,” he assured.
Newcastle United striker Ameobi told reporters that playing at next year’s World Cup in Brazil is enough to fire Nigeria in Ethiopia.
“We don’t need any extra motivation what so ever to beat Ethiopia. Every player in this squad knows the importance of being at the World Cup and I think that is the motivation we need to do our country proud,” he said.
“Everybody has tipped us to win the game but we must remember that Ethiopians are not push-over. They topped their group like we topped ours and they want to be at the World Cup like we want, but we would go there and give our best for our country ensure that the result is favorable.”
Ameobi has also dismissed speculations regarding his fitness ahead of this showdown. “I worked really hard to ensure that am fit for this game and I can tell you that am fully fit for the
Heartland Players Make U-Turn On Strike
…Vows to “Hang Boots” after El Kanemi Game If…
Players of Heartland Football Club on Tuesday October 8 made a U-turn on their strike actions in protest of their unpaid entitlements.
The players who for the past one Month have been locked in a battle with the authorities and recently hanged their boots until the authorities react favorably to their demands which includes 10% plus 90% of their sign-on-fees for the past and present season respectively as well as over 10 match bonuses.
But after a passionate plea from fans of the back-to-back Federation Cup winners in 2011 and ’12 who phoned in on a Radio phoning sports program (Triple A Sports) in Hot 99.5 FM on Monday, they decided to return back to training in preparation for their week 36 Npfl game against El Kanemi Warriors of Madugiri on Saturday, October 12 at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
The Naze-Millionaires are presently placed 15th on the log, a position which demands that they must as a matter of fact secure the maximum six points from their next two home games again El Kanemi and their Oriental brothers, Rangers International of Enugu to make certain their top flight status next season.
The players however vowed to go back on strike immediately after the El kanemi to continue the demandfor their entitlements which many of them fear may proof difficult to collect when the season comes to an end.
Meanwhile, former Heartland striker Bello Kofarmata has said the Npfl title race for his side, Kano Pillars is not done and dusted with the rescheduled Week 31 win against Enyimba on Tuesday at Lokaja, were the Pyramid City side piped the 2013 Federation Cup winners 1 0 in the rescheduled Glo Premier League Match day 31 tie.
“We know it won’t be easy that’s why we’ve challenged ourselves to remain focused till the last game is played,” said the former Heartland man.
