THE Nigeria Rugby Football Federation has called-up a 23-man list for a two-week intensive camping exercise for the country’s national
rugby team, Black Stallions ahead of the pre-qualifiers for the 2019 Rugby
World Cup.
The two weeks exercise under the supervision of South
African born coach, Fabian Juries kicked off on Monday, 27th of June at the Main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
According to the list made available by the technical
department of the federation, only two foreign based players in the persons of
Christian Ogar and Okafor ThankGod both plying their trades in South Africa
were invited to join their home based colleagues for the camping exercise.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Technical Director of
the federation, Fasimoye Olatunji said, "Because of the standard of our
league, we have been able to build our players to a standard where we believe
that if we nurture them well, they can compete favorably anywhere in the
world.
"We expect that all the players that we have called
to camp will resume to the national stadium by 4 pm today (Monday)."
He thanked CMB Building, Investment and Maintenance
Company for making the camping exercise possible and also for their unflinching
support for the Sir Edward Fom Pam led NRFF as he called on other corporate
bodies to partner with the federation in sponsoring the National teams for
their international engagements.
The team which is expected to depart for Morocco on the
11th of July will take on Mauritius on the 13th before the all important clash
with the host country, Morocco on the 16th with all games to be played at the
COC stadium.
"I think it's a great deal for us because we are
going to be playing a phase in the 2019 world cup qualifiers in Morocco.
Morocco being the host nation, it won't be an easy task
and that is why we are trying to prepare our boys in our own little way.
For Morocco, most of their players play in France and
they are well funded, hence the need for the Black Stallions to have a 2 week
camp."
Meanwhile, the Team Doctor, Bukola Bojuwoye is monitoring
the conditions of team captain, Azeez Ladipo ahead of the tournament following
injury he suffered at the finals of the South West league.
He finally affirmed that, "Despite all the
challenges being faced by the federation, we believe that everything is going
to be fine."
Full List of invited players:
Peter Okere Ambrose Scrum half North
Omoragieva
Monday Henry Scrum/
Fly half North
Ladipo Azeez Olaitan Fly half/ Full
back Lagos
Oche Alfred Sunday Fly half/ Full
back North
Oladele John Siminuoluwa Center Lagos
Okafor Sopuruchi
ThankGod Wing/
Center South Africa.
Ogar Christian Innocent Wing/ Center South Africa
Jatto Onoru-Oyiza Jude Wing/ Center Lagos
Afam Ifeanyi Moses Wing Lagos
Iheme Felix Chidera Full Back North
Olawale Oladipo Scrum
half Lagos
Ekpo Ekubi Samuel
Flank/Wing Lagos
Samaila Agwan
Flank/Wing North
Aleto Obinna Festus Prop Lagos
George Anedi
Prop Lagos
Akeju Francis Sunday Prop/Hooker North
Oduola Sodiq Kofoworola Hooker Lagos
Isa Hasan
Hooker North
Sani Isaac Cato
Lock
Lagos
Kura John Terseer Lock Lagos
Wilson Obi Izuchukwu Lock North
Yannick Ufoma Mukoro Eight Lagos
Ayinla Hafis Ademola Flank/Eight Lagos
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