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Amputee Football: Special Eagles Ready For AFCON In Tanzania, Says Capt.
Sarafadeen Ọlálékan, Captain, Amputee National Football Team, has said that the team was ready for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) billed to kick-off in Tanzania on Nov.26.
Ọlálékan said on Friday, in Lagos, that their performance at the AFCON would help boost their chances of qualifying for the world cup, while expressing his optimism on the team’s chances of qualification.
“The camp has really been busy. We have been having series of trainings, that is in the morning and afternoon.
“The players have been improving day-in day-out and the coaches have been trying their best to keep us in shape ahead of the forthcoming tournament.
“ I am very optimistic and by the special grace of God we are not going to disappoint Nigeria.
“We are still going to make Nigeria proud just like the way we did at the last nations cup in Angola,” he said.
The captain noted that the players had been going through rigorous trainings to ensure that they were not caught unawares by their counterparts from other countries.
Olalekan revealed that only the Black Challengers of Ghana and Egypt’s amputee teams posed any real threats to the special eagles.
“In football the only challenges we encounter sometimes are the rigorous trainings which I think is part of what we need now.
“ We need to be in shape and to be prepared to play against our counterparts in the forthcoming nations’ cup.
“ We will be meeting with one of our rival countries which is the black challengers, I mean the Ghanaian amputee team, and also we have the new Egyptian amputee national team.
“This is really a big task ahead of us, but I am very optimistic and sure that by the special grace of God we are going to deliver.
“Now, we have 21 countries in Africa and 15 will be at the forthcoming nations cup, as so many countries are seeing the importance of this game.
“This is a very big task ahead of every country that will be participating at the forthcoming nations’ cup, because it is going to be a qualifier for the world cup in Turkey, in 2022,” he said.
Ọlálékan thanked the Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, for putting in so much efforts to win global recognition for amputee football.
He also urged the ministry to ensure that more local and international competitions were organised, to encourage more players to join the sport.
“We are still expecting and hoping that the ministry would put more consideration into amputee football because amputee football is getting global recognition.
“We are still soliciting the ministry and also the minister Sunday Dare to come to our aid.
“Although he has been supportive, we still need more support because this game is a tasking game and we need support from every angle,” he said.
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