Sunday, March 27, 2011

PETER RUFAI IS U-23 TEAM COORDINATOR


Another legend of the Nigeria game, Peter Rufai, has been appointed Team Coordinator of the Nigeria U-23 men’s team (Dream Team) by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Nicknamed Dodo Mayana, Rufai remains one of the best goalkeepers to turned out for Nigeria, with his incredible agility, alertness, commitment, industry and flamboyance.

He debuted for the Nigeria senior team in a friendly against Egypt on February 18, 1983. He won a total of 62 caps, scoring one goal – a penalty against Ethiopia in a 1994 African Nations Cup qualifying match in Lagos on July 24, 1993.

Rufai kept goal for Nigeria as the Super Eagles won their first African Cup of Nations title on away soil in 1994 in Tunisia, and was number one choice at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals. His last match was against Denmark in a FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match in Paris on June 28, 1998.

MIKEL NOT SCARED OF COMPETITION

Boasts Chelsea Place Is secured

Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi has declared his place in the star-studded Chelsea side is not under any threat.

The prodigiously talented player who is set to start in Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations qualifying game against Ethiopia on Sunday, expressed confidence that he is able to hold his own in the Premier League top side.

Speaking to Complete Sports Saturday from the Eagles’ Nicon Transcorp Hotel in Abuja, Mikel said the presence of Ramirez and David Luis cannot displace him from Chelsea’s line-up.

The Brazilian duo who teamed up with Chelsea just this season have been making waves with their solid performances for the Les Blues in recent weeks, sparking fears amongst Nigerian fans that Mikel’s place in the team could be in jeopardy.

“I belive my place in the Chelsea team is secured,” begins the former Lyn Oslo of Norway star.

“I don’t feel threatened with the performances of Ramirez and Luiz in the Chelsea squad lately. It is just that I have been unlucky with a series of injuries in recent times.
“I am confident about my ability and I am not afraid of competition. It will only bring out the best in me,” said the player who had a much publicised long drawn out transfer battle before finally signing for Chelsea in 2007.

Speaking further, Mikel said the Chelsea squad is a big one and he can’t be expected to play in every game while expressing his readiness to see out his contract with the Stamford Bridge outfit.

“Chelsea is one of the biggest club in Europe and we have quite a big squad of quality players.

“So people must understand that I can’t possibly play in all matches.
“I’m still contracted to Chelsea and I intend to see it through, then we’ll see what happens next,” concludes the former youth international.

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