Reuben Is Nigeria’s Vieira, Says Green Imoke, As Ugbe Get Plaudits

Kano Pillars and Super Eagles midfield power house, Gabriel Reuben, has been described as the Nigerian version of ex-French and Arsenal of England legend Patrick Vieira.

Chairman, NFF Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green, who made the declaration in Calabar, after the Nigerian side won the Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda by 2-0, said it was amazing the way and
manner the midfielder hitherto regarded as a minnow has dominated in the national team. Reuben was named the TomTom Man of the Match after the encounter in Calabar.

“For me, I will call Reuben, Nigeria’s Vieira and I think most Nigerians think the same way and in no distance future he would be named one of Africa’s best, just mark my words”, Green said in Calabar
on Saturday.

Meawhile, journalists, supporters and other stakeholders have been pouring encomiums on Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River state and his Sports Commissioner, Patrick Ugbe, for the excellent job they have
done to sports in the state.

Presidential General, Football Supporters Club, Dr Rauf Ladipo, said it was the first in a long while that the football and indeed sports will be congregating in a state outside of Lagos and Abuja, the
Federal capital. SWAN national Chairman, Seidu Abubakar, described Calabar as the new home of Nigerian football, adding that other states need to borrow a leaf from the sportsmanlike attitude of the people
and government of the state.

Ugbe on his part said the drive to make sports a national limelight informed the state government’s commitment to the putting huge resources sports in the country, adding that it will be even get better in the coming years.