F/Eagles appointment excites Bala

Coach Abubakar Bala has described as reward for hard work his appointment as an assistant coach of Nigeria’s U-20 men’s team.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday had named Bala as a member of the technical crew of the Flying Eagles.

“I was shocked and surprised when I heard my name as assistant coach of the Flying Eagles.

“Though I least expected it I’m somehow humbled and overwhelmed with joy to be so recognised.

“I can only attribute my appointment to hard work. I see it as a reward for hard work.

“The appointment will further ginger and spur me to work even harder to achieve positive results with the national team.

“I just worked for a season with a premier league side and here I am with a national team assignment.

“I’m more than ever determined to work even harder in the new role as assistant coach of Flying Eagles,” the former Niger Tornadoes coach told supersport.com.

Bala said he is certainly going to learn a lot working with the experienced and seasoned drivers of the Flying Eagles assignment, coaches Paul Aigbogun and Abdul Maikaba.

“I know Paul Aigbogun as a gentleman, experienced, hard-working and tactically sound, the same as Abdul Maikaba.

“I’m certainly going to learn a lot from them to ensure we achieve successes in our new assignment.

“We are going to bring new innovation into the team aimed at surpassing the side’s previous records.

“We are equal to the task and will not disappoint the NFF and Nigerians,” said the former FC Lokoja coach.