Keshi assures home-based Eagles of equal opportunity

27 players begin camping

SUPER Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, has dismissed the notion that the home-based players currently camped in Abuja for the forthcoming 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda are mere training materials, stating that any of the players, who distinguishes himself in the team stands a chance of commanding a first team shirt in the final team.

Assuring the players of equal opportunity in the national team, Keshi said he does not believe that a player’s base translates to ability, adding that only those that distinguished themselves in training would make the team. A total of 27 players filed out for the first full training session at the Abuja National Stadium yesterday, with players from Enugu Rangers expected to join today.

“I am glad and satisfied with the attitude of the players; they look responsible and listen to directives,” he said. “I hope they keep it up because I have seen in some of them the ability to give their opponent a challenge when the foreign-based players join us.

“They need encouragement because there is a lot of potential and I do not want to believe that the players are mere training materials because we can play anyone who merits to be here. So if they prove themselves, why not?”

Keshi was particularly excited with the reaction of the players to the call-up, as there was no deadline for them to report to camp, saying that it was a sign that the players were ready to serve the country.

The home-based players will remain in camp throughout the Christmas season and would be joined by their foreign-based counterparts for final preparation for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Rwanda.