Essien thumbs up Beach Soccer standard

Super 4:
Essien thumbs up Beach Soccer standard

By Vincent Akinbami, Kaduna

The chairman of the committee on Beach Soccer and Futsal, Hon Nse Essien has given a thumbs up for the standard of play by the four teams at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Beach Soccer League Super 4 that started in Kaduna on July 4 at the Murtala Mohammed Square Beach Soccer field.

Responding to journalists after the first two matches, Essien said the first two matches were interesting, filled with excellent performance by the players.
He also praised the good organisational skills displayed on the opening day.

"With what I have seen so far, at the end of the Super 4 we will have a worthy champion. As for the organisation we will build from here for the remaining days," he assured.

Essien thanked the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau for having a listening hear by bringing back the Sand Eagles to play after about four to five years in limbo.

He stressed that the NFF President has proved to be a compassionate leader and listens to advises to what the people say.

"Nigerians have been craving for sometime now that Beach Soccer should come on board, so we are greatfull to the board of the NFF, who has graciously approved this tournament. We will also not forget the stakeholders who have been holding brief for us and organising this tournament over the years, people like Mahmud, John and their teams and that is why we need to consolidate on what they have achieved over the years," he said.

The committee chairman also thanked the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Uba Sani for agreeing to sponsor and host the Super 4.

"We also thank the governor who has hosted us and sponsored the tournament. We equally thank the government and people of Kaduna State.

On the plan for the AFCON qualifier against Mauritania, Essien said, "As regard the two-legged match later this July for the Beach AFCON in Egypt, we are hopeful that after this Super 4, we will go to camp with the players the coaches must have selected, immediately after the tournament on Sunday. And with what we have seen on ground, Nigeria should win two legged match."

On plans for Futsal, he said a tournament would be put in place for Futsal and that some facilities have been sighted for the competition, adding that he has been in talks with stakeholders of Futsal