Tunisia 2004: Portuguese Hotel Closes for Eagles
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Tunisia 2004: Portuguese Hotel Closes for Eagles
Nigeria's Super Eagles finally kicked off their preparations for next month's Nations Cup finals in Tunisia with their first training session at their Faro camp in Portugal.
The session which kicked off at 4.30 p.m. Nigerian time had only 10 players in attendance with England-based defender George Abbey arriving yesterday to join the nine players who left Lagos with Coach Christian Chukwu over the weekend.
The nine, which included four members of the victorious CAF Champions League winners Enyimba, arrived the small island of the coast of Portugal on Sunday after leaving Nigeria a day earlier.
Two other players Osase Odewenge and Joseph Onahkire were being expected to join the camp last night, while Uche Kalu and Femi Opabunmi, who featured in the 1-1 draw with Tunisia in an Athens 2004 qualifier over the weekend, are also expected to leave for Portugal in the next couple of days.
According to information out of Portugal, the team is lodged at the Ria Park Hotel situated in the Anacir Area of the island.
But amazingly the hotel officials determined to help the Eagles prepare in a serene atmosphere for the African champions has decided to close their doors to outsiders for the duration of the team's stay there.
"They told us that the hotel management said they would not be admitting any other guests while the Eagles stayed in the premises," Nigeria Football Association (NFA) spokesman Mr. Sam Kaalu told us last night.
According to Kaalu, who said he called the team late evening yesterday, both the players and officials expressed their satisfaction with the hotel and training facilities available to them.
"They said they were okay with the accommodation, feeding and training facilities. They also told me that they were not finding the weather too cold for them."
THISDAYSports learnt that it is currently about 14degrees centigrade on the island, venue of their very successful build up for Tunisia'94.
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Meanwhile, we also reliably learnt that Chukwu will begin two training sessions from today - morning and evening - for the team, as he battles to whip them into shape for the competition, which kicks off on January 24th.
The Eagles and their handlers are expected to wrap up their preparations on the island a week to the start of the Nations Cup before heading to Tunisia.
The session which kicked off at 4.30 p.m. Nigerian time had only 10 players in attendance with England-based defender George Abbey arriving yesterday to join the nine players who left Lagos with Coach Christian Chukwu over the weekend.
The nine, which included four members of the victorious CAF Champions League winners Enyimba, arrived the small island of the coast of Portugal on Sunday after leaving Nigeria a day earlier.
Two other players Osase Odewenge and Joseph Onahkire were being expected to join the camp last night, while Uche Kalu and Femi Opabunmi, who featured in the 1-1 draw with Tunisia in an Athens 2004 qualifier over the weekend, are also expected to leave for Portugal in the next couple of days.
According to information out of Portugal, the team is lodged at the Ria Park Hotel situated in the Anacir Area of the island.
But amazingly the hotel officials determined to help the Eagles prepare in a serene atmosphere for the African champions has decided to close their doors to outsiders for the duration of the team's stay there.
"They told us that the hotel management said they would not be admitting any other guests while the Eagles stayed in the premises," Nigeria Football Association (NFA) spokesman Mr. Sam Kaalu told us last night.
According to Kaalu, who said he called the team late evening yesterday, both the players and officials expressed their satisfaction with the hotel and training facilities available to them.
"They said they were okay with the accommodation, feeding and training facilities. They also told me that they were not finding the weather too cold for them."
THISDAYSports learnt that it is currently about 14degrees centigrade on the island, venue of their very successful build up for Tunisia'94.
Relevant Links
Meanwhile, we also reliably learnt that Chukwu will begin two training sessions from today - morning and evening - for the team, as he battles to whip them into shape for the competition, which kicks off on January 24th.
The Eagles and their handlers are expected to wrap up their preparations on the island a week to the start of the Nations Cup before heading to Tunisia.
Obino14