Nduka Ugbade is a legend in world football. As a starry-eyed youth, he led a group of unsung Nigerians to lift the first FIFA JVC U-16 World Championship in 1985 in China.
Ugbade grew to play for Nigeria in the Flying Eagles and the Super Eagles. His only regret to date is that he was prevented from being the first Nigerian to go to all the FIFA World Cups in his active days. Today, however, Ugbade remains the only Coach in the world to have won the FIFA U-17 World Cup as a player and as a coach.
He spoke with Jacob Ajom about the Eaglets’ triumph in the United Arab Emirates. Excerpts.
You were the first man to lift the FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy as a player, and today, as a coach, you were part of the crew that groomed a set of players to win the cup for Nigeria for the fourth time. How did you feel after your boys won the trophy in UAE?
Wonderful, wonderful. It was awesome, a feeling I cannot easily explain. It was an amazing feeling. But I give thanks and glory to God who made it possible for this achievement to come through. And I must also thank the Nigeria Football Federation for giving me the opportunity to serve my country in another capacity. I am happy.
How was it possible for you and your colleagues in the technical crew led by Manu Garba able to mould a near perfect team that conquered the world? ……..
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