UAE 2013: Oliseh counsels Eaglets against complacency

[Mirror]

Erstwhile Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh was warned the Golden Eaglets against complacency in their remaining games while also commending their impressive run at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE.

Oliseh who strolled into the Golden Eaglets locker room to counsel and pray for the budding youngsters after their 2-0 over Uruguay on Saturday in Sharjah said, "Working with FIFA, you have made me very proud because of your playing style and overall conduct in this competition.But be that as it may, I don't want you to start counting because nobody remembers the team that comes second next day except the champions."

The former Ajax and Juventus midfielder who is on the Technical Study Group (TSG) said the Golden Eaglets should not regard themselves as favourites yet to lift the trophy despite playing some of the best matches at this championship:

"You don't start counting until the battle is won and I want you to learn from a team like Brazil who are already out of the competition because they started counting before the job was done."

The two-time World Cup star further warned the players against complacency even as he charged them to pay attention to instruction from 'the most competent Under-17 coaching crew.'

"In my village, we were told that you cannot be dancing and look at your buttocks. What that means is that you need to listen to your coaches because they are the ones that can look at your back while you on the pitch playing", Oliseh said philosophically.

He later offered prayers asking God to bless their bidding careers as well as all efforts towards the team's success at the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013.