After a hectic trip from Faro, Portugal, through
Lisbon and from there to Johannesburg, South Africa, before arriving its
Nations Cup 2013 first round base in Nelspruit, last Thursday evening, the Super
Eagles have quickly settled down with four training sessions so far at the lush
green pitch of Ingwenyama Sports and Resort Centre.
The workout session supervised by Head Coach,
Stephen Keshi,first started at 8am local time and 7am in Nigeria on Friday.
Keshi took the players on regaining the physicality after a long trip and told
them that there will be another training session later in the evening at
7:30pm, which will be 6:30 in Nigeria.
The training sessions have since been done once
daily in the evenings at about 7:30pm, which is one hour less in Nigerian time.
Not even the heavy downpour of Saturday and Sunday
could prevent the Nigerian side from having its training sessions as it
prepares for its opening game on Monday against Burkina Faso. Continue after the cut...
“We can’t take chances whether it rains or not”,
Chelsea John Mikel Obi said when asked about the readiness of the team.
All the players responded very well and the team is
injury free, with Skipper Joseph Yobo saying it was good to be back in the
bright sunny weather of Africa.
“Its been good since we got here and I think the
players are gradually getting used to being together and I know we will have a
beautiful tournament”, the Eagles skipper declared.
The national team held a media parley with the
international press at 3:30pm local time on Sunday evening and trained later in
the evening at 7:30pm for today’s game.
The cheery news was the return to full training by
goalkeeper, Austin Ejide. Ejide had copped an injury in the team’s
international friendly against Cape Verde in Portugal.
“I feel real good and ready but I am taking it easy
as the medics have advised but am feeling real good”, he declared. On Saturday
evening, goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu, took Ejide on a special training
session with Ejide turning out in impressive dives, punches and general
conditioning of a good goalkeeper.
He should at least be good for the bench in Monday’s
game.
Culled from Vanguard
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