Eagles’ Scouts Comb For Defenders, Scouts

[Folami David]

Super Eagles gaffer, Stephen Keshi is bent on strengthening his team, given its current status as African champions as the country attempt to qualify for its fifth World Cup in Brazil 2014. Toward this end, the technical staffs have been mandated to comb all nooks and crannies for quality defenders and strikers.
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Keshi had stated in clear terms that in as much as he wants to maintain the status quo of giving players in bigger leagues more chances to showcase their talent in the national team; he may have to look inward to other leagues that parade top quality Nigerian stars.
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The Big Boss hinted that luck plays a huge role in football, pointing out that his latest findings showed that there are top quality players in some Asian leagues like India and other countries. According to him, few of such players will be given a look in subsequent friendly matches.
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"I have been watching tapes of players during the break and it dawned on me that there are lots of players in some Asian leagues. These players are not just lucky to play in Europe for now, while some of them are not willing to settle for lesser pay in Europe.
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There are lots of players in England who are not that talented, they play in Europe quite alright but we have seen quality players in some Asian league. I will be giving few of those players a chance to showcase their talents. Once they are good enough, I will not even mind the league they play in.
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I have strong faith in my current defenders and strikers but still want our bench to be as strong as our starting eleven; that is the only way we can become champions," he said.
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With this latest development, the likes of Ranti Martins of FC Prayag, looks set to make his long awaited Super Eagles debut after it was revealed that Keshi nodded his head with satisfaction, while going through the players' match footage recently.
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Ranti Martins was adjudged the Best Player of I- League 2012-13. The Nigerian striker was chosen as the Best Player of the League after votes from all the Coaches and Captains of all I-League Teams which played in the last edition of the League. Ranti who played for Prayag United, topped the goal scorer's list with 27 goals to his name.
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Ranti also bagged the Award for the Best Forward of the I-League.

[Shola Sholaz]

Of course we would definately need to improve on our players to face tougher oppositions when they come. We are the giant of Africa so we must show it.