I ’ll raise team to play in 2019 U-17 W-Cup ―Maikaba

 

Newly-appointed head coach of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, Abdu Maikaba, has said he is determined to raise a team that would qualify for the 2019 U-17 FIFA World Cup.

“Firstly, my target is to produce players within the age limit who can grow up to play for the other national teams.

“I will strive to qualify Nigeria for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and go ahead to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

“If we go ahead to win the Nations and World Cup titles that would be added privilege.

“The main target remains to produce quality talents that will progress to play for the senior national team,” Maikaba told Supersport.com.

Maikaba, a former Wikki Tourists handler revealed that he did apply for the U-20 national team job.

“Frankly, I expected the coaching job but never expected to be named as U-17 head coach, I actually applied for the U-20 coaching job.

“However, I can willingly serve my country in whatever capacity she deems me fit.

“Of course, yes, I’m a happy man being assigned the responsibility to handle the U-17 national team.

“I will try my very best to do a perfect work as well as meet the aspirations and expectations of Nigerians.

“Akwa United job will not hamper my work at the national level because I do not work alone, rather as a team in Akwa United.

“I have assistants who understand the innermost part of the working at Akwa United and I can comfortably delegate power and rest assured the work will come out perfectly well.

“If it was to be a case of new persons that would have been a problem, but I work with familiar and trusted men so the continuity will be there.

“So there is absolutely no problem combining both jobs,” the former Enyimba coach told Supersport.com.

Meanwhile, Maikaba, was last weekend named as the Eaglets head coach by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and will be assisted by the Niger Tornadoes technical adviser, Abubakar Bala and Oluwafunsho Bunmi while Baruwa Abideen serves as goalkeeper’s trainer.