Manu, Amuneke Thumbs-up Calabar Mock Premiership As Golden Eaglets tackle Akamkpa United Friday

The Golden Eaglets would on Friday play their 10th practice match at St. Patrick College against Akamkpa United, an Under-18 team from Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State as coach Manu Garba and Emmanuel Amuneke has commended the organisers of the annual Calabar Mock Premiership.

Garba said picking and grooming talents from the grassroots would boost the credibility of Nigerian football, consequently the need for corporate bodies to support tournaments that could serve as nursery for national teams.

 “The future of our football is in the grassroots, therefore, we need to encourage those who are involved with the grooming of talents from the scratch,” explained Manu, a member of the Flying Eagles to the 1983 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Mexico.

Now in its seventh edition, the Mock Premiership is bankrolled by Mr.Oku Ita and Mr. Onyeka Onyekaoyekwlu, owner of Diamond Stars Academy who doubles as the Local Organizing Committee chairman of the annual popular tournament in Calabar and its environs.

Meanwhile, Amuneke, the 1994 African Footballer of the Year who broke through the ranks to play for the Super Eagles said he was impressed with the standard exhibited during the tournament's finale on Sunday when Chelsea FC beat Manchester United 2-1 to win the trophy for a record fifth time.

 Chelsea received One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira as prize money while Manchester United and Arsenal who were runners-up got the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira and Fifty Thousand Naira.

“Organisers of this competition have really done well and we need this type of competition across the country since it would help in discovering of fresh talents for the national teams,” said Amuneke, who shot to limelight as a junior international at the 1991 All-Africa Games in Cairo.