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| Players at the trial training session in Calabar |
Nyok|10 January 2019
Prior to the supposed commencement of the Nigerian (national) league season by next month, Rovers Football Club, Tuesday, began shopping for new players who will constitute her team NEGROIDHAVEN has garnered. Our correspondent learnt this during the trial training of the state-owned team in Calabar the state capital city.
Rovers FC general manager, Mr Ebam Ejenosowor who expressed optimism in 2019, gave insight into the activities of the team where he said that new players have been invited for possible selection. He disclosed that in doing the selection for this season, the management abandoned the option of open selection but rather explored inviting perceived good players for possible conscription.
According to him, ‘This is trials, where we get our team. The season is supposed to kick start according to the calendar of the Nigerian National League, by next month we are supposed to kick start.
‘Right now what you are seeing here is that we invited players, what we didn’t do this time around was open screening, because open screening has always given us challenges: Sometimes, some player come here, and at the end of the day, they try to give us their best, but, when the league starts proper, we find out that they cannot give us their best because they have not played football to that level.
‘So, what we actually did this time around was, in the course of playing last season, we picked out some good players from other teams (because that is how football is being run), and we invited them to come over so that we can also watch them again. Because they are tested and trusted —players that gave us so much challenge in their various team where they played against us.
‘We have been able to do the needful to ensure that they are with us. I can assure you that we are going to get the best out of it. We want them to play together so that they can acclimatise, know themselves so that we can do the final selection and get our team.’
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| General Manager Ebam Ejenosowor (in front) addressing the team players… |
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| Team players joggling during trial training session… |
Ejenosowor who was very confident of constituting a viable team said that ‘I can assure you we are going to get our team this time around.’
Management spurs up prospective team players, appreciates state government’s magnanimity
The General Manager of state-owned football team, Rovers FC charged both prospective members and existing members of the team to take their training seriously. He asked them to be proficient, disciplined, committed and passionate in whatever they will be doing during the training prior to final selection.
‘The old team players will agree that we are not here for sentiments. Whatever you guys are doing, open your hearts, give in your best, I want all of you to be committed. I assure you that we will make use of you and bring the out the best out of you. Our watchword is discipline. I wish you well.’
The general manager expressed the club’s gratitude to His Excellency Governor Ben Ayade and the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Comr Asu Okang for not owing salaries of the team, increasing the subvention, provision of team coaster buss and the like.
Present at the St. Patrick’s College football pitch, venue for the training were the Coach John Ania, Pst George Ebiotu the secretary of the club, and Jimmy Okotu.
Efio-Ita Nyok is the blogger-in-chief, editor-in-chief and publisher of NEGROIDHAVEN