The team representing Nigeria at the 2013 Standard Chartered Road to Anfield Tournament arrived in Liverpool on Saturday morning via Amsterdam and Manchester and promised to improve on last year's performance.
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The Standard Chartered Trophy is only in its second year and Nigeria finished ninth among 10 teams last year. "We thought it was going to be a jamboree, so we didn't prepare well," says team captain Funlola Oni. "This year, we are better prepared and we hope to do better than last year."
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The Managing Director and CEO, Standard Chartered Nigeria, Mrs. Bola Adesola, charged the Nigerian team to win the trophy before they left home. Team manager and chaperon, Joke Adu, is hoping they can do just that.
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"The team have worked tremendously hard for this tournament and we remain positive that we will bring home the trophy. We have received tremendous support from our colleagues and we won't let them down," Adu says. Standard Chartered Bank has 36 branches in Nigeria and counting.
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All the participating teams in the tournament, billed for May 18 to May 22, attended Liverpool's last Premier League game of the 2012/2013 season against Queens Park Rangers at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. The tournament will also be played at Anfield.
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Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers, who was the star attraction at the welcome dinner organized for the participating countries on Saturday night, encouraged fair play.
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"You can't forecast whether you will win a match, lose or draw. What is important is to put in your best effort and take the outcome with dignity. That is what I always tell my players," he said as the 'Mersey Beatles' performed live and treated guests to many tracks of The (original) Beatles group led by Paul McCartney.
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The Beatles are one of the iconic symbols of Liverpool.
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Complete Communications Limited Group Managing Director Mumini Alao, a staunch supporter of Liverpool FC who was impressive for the Complete Sports team as they won the Lagos SWAN Cup last year, is a member of the Nigeria Standard Chartered team. He is also upbeat about his team's chances.
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Standard Chartered Nigeria finished third in the 2011 Nigeria Bankers football competition and improved to second in 2012 after Syke Bank beat them 2-1 in the final.
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"We hope that the progress we have made at home will also translate to something here," says Jide Siwoku who emerged as the most valuable player (MVP) at the 2012 Bankers League.
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Singapore won the inaugural Standard Chartered Trophy in 2012, beating Botswana to second place while Malaysia finished third. Nigeria and Kenya are the two African teams at this year's Finals. Botswana failed to qualify.
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Liverpool legends Ian Rush and John Barnes are the club ambassadors for this year's Standard Chartered Trophy final.