NAN-S-3
Squad
Benin, Feb. 20, 2017 (NAN) The coach of the Insurance FC of Benin, Roland Ewere, says the club has beefed up its squad in readiness for the commencement of the 2016/2017 Nigeria National League (NNL).
The coach made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Monday.
Ewere, who said the club, was poised for promotion to the elite league this season, said that a total of nine new players had been recruited to provide more options in all departments of the game.
While noting that the same number of players left the club, he said that a total of 30 players would be registered by the club to prosecute matches this season.
The coach said that as part of preparation for the commencement of the league, the club had played series of friendly matches, within and outside the state.
He noted that no fewer than three more of these friendly matches had been lined up before the commencement of the league that had been tentatively fixed for March 5.
“We are ready; the players know what is at stake. Our ultimate aim is to secure promotion to the professional league.
“We have recruited nine players to boost our squad; this is to replace the nine players that left the club. We now have no fewer than 30 players who are ready to give their all.
“To get the players ready for the competition, we have been playing series of matches.
“So far, we have played 11 matches and we still have about three to play before the league kick-off,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Ewere have complained of logistics challenges which he attributed to the non-appointment of commissioners by the state government.
“I am optimistic that by the time a commissioner is appointed for the sports ministry, this problem will naturally sort itself out,’’ he said. (NAN)
ESI/KOLE/PDE
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(Edited by Remi Koleoso/Peter Ejiofor)