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Ghana 2008 - Why FA Turned Down Jamaica Friendly
This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
15 October 2007 </B>
Posted to the web 15 October 2007
By Tunde Sulaiman
Lagos
Failure of the Jamaica Football Association (JFA) to cover the fare of the Mexico to Kingston flight for the Super Eagles is the reason why the Eagles passed up the chance to play the Reggae Boyz.
According to THISDAYSports investigations, JFA had offered to play the Eagles in place of the cancelled friendly with the Black Stars of Ghana which was supposed to have taken place in London over the weekend.
But the Jamaicans insisted that the Nigerian federation pick up the flight bill for the Mexico Kingston route while they cover the flight fare of the team back to Europe.
But after weighing up the offer and failing to convince the Jamaicans to pay more for the friendly the Glass House was forced to turn down the trip to Kingston.
It was learnt that after removing the cost of flying the 19-man team and their officials to the Caribbean nation what would be left of the money would not even be enough to cover the allowances of the team.
Confirming the development FA Secretary General Bolaji Ojo-Oba said in as much as they were more concerned with getting as many friendlies for the Eagles ahead of Ghana 2008 than money they could not accept just any offer.
"The profile of the Eagles is high so we can't just accept anything. However, in the case of the Jamaica friendly we could not accept the match because we wouldn't have had any money to pay the allowances of the players after all they have to get something for playing such games," explained the scribe.
According to Ojo-Oba the FA is determined to make the best use of all the FIFA free match days because they are aware they will not be able to camp the Eagles as long as they would have loved to for the Nations Cup.
"Unlike the local Eagles, whom we can camp for as long as we like we can't do the same with the foreign-based players that is why we want them to play as many friendlies as possible before camp opens by the mandatory two-week period before the Nations Cup."
The scribe also told us that they were hoping to be able to hold a small get together for the team at a yet to be determined location in Europe over the Christmas period when most leagues in Europe will be on their winter break.
"We know that the Premiership does not go on winter break but we're hoping that the good relationship between Berti Vogts and the English clubs will allow them grant their Super Eagles' players some time off to attend the get together," said the scribe, who also confirmed that Malaga and Faroe have been pencilled down as the final camp sites for the Eagles for Ghana 2008.
"The coach will settle for one of them after inspecting the two camp sites. We want to make sure that we give him all the support he needs to prepare a strong team for the Nations Cup."
Copyright © 2007 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
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Ghana 2008 - Why FA Turned Down Jamaica Friendly
This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
15 October 2007 </B>
Posted to the web 15 October 2007
By Tunde Sulaiman
Lagos
Failure of the Jamaica Football Association (JFA) to cover the fare of the Mexico to Kingston flight for the Super Eagles is the reason why the Eagles passed up the chance to play the Reggae Boyz.
According to THISDAYSports investigations, JFA had offered to play the Eagles in place of the cancelled friendly with the Black Stars of Ghana which was supposed to have taken place in London over the weekend.
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JFA has proprosed that the Eagles fly directly from yesterday's friendly with Mexico to Kingston for the game and offered $70, 000. But the Jamaicans insisted that the Nigerian federation pick up the flight bill for the Mexico Kingston route while they cover the flight fare of the team back to Europe.
But after weighing up the offer and failing to convince the Jamaicans to pay more for the friendly the Glass House was forced to turn down the trip to Kingston.
It was learnt that after removing the cost of flying the 19-man team and their officials to the Caribbean nation what would be left of the money would not even be enough to cover the allowances of the team.
Confirming the development FA Secretary General Bolaji Ojo-Oba said in as much as they were more concerned with getting as many friendlies for the Eagles ahead of Ghana 2008 than money they could not accept just any offer.
"The profile of the Eagles is high so we can't just accept anything. However, in the case of the Jamaica friendly we could not accept the match because we wouldn't have had any money to pay the allowances of the players after all they have to get something for playing such games," explained the scribe.
According to Ojo-Oba the FA is determined to make the best use of all the FIFA free match days because they are aware they will not be able to camp the Eagles as long as they would have loved to for the Nations Cup.
"Unlike the local Eagles, whom we can camp for as long as we like we can't do the same with the foreign-based players that is why we want them to play as many friendlies as possible before camp opens by the mandatory two-week period before the Nations Cup."
The scribe also told us that they were hoping to be able to hold a small get together for the team at a yet to be determined location in Europe over the Christmas period when most leagues in Europe will be on their winter break.
"We know that the Premiership does not go on winter break but we're hoping that the good relationship between Berti Vogts and the English clubs will allow them grant their Super Eagles' players some time off to attend the get together," said the scribe, who also confirmed that Malaga and Faroe have been pencilled down as the final camp sites for the Eagles for Ghana 2008.
"The coach will settle for one of them after inspecting the two camp sites. We want to make sure that we give him all the support he needs to prepare a strong team for the Nations Cup."
Copyright © 2007 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
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