Cash strapped Amputee Eagles get Mikel’s support

Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has pledged to assist the country’s cash-strapped amputee football team so that they can participate in this year’s Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.

The team are on the verge of missing the tournament due to funds and have been reaching out to well meaning Nigerians for support that has also caught the attention of the captain.

“We’ve spoken to a representative of John Mikel Obi who has offered to help the  team,”  “His support will come as a big boost, but right now the dilemma is to find the flights to get the squad to Mexico.

“Time is running out on us and with ticket costs increasing by the day towards our opening game against our budget, we are taking the hard decisions of sending the  first team as first batch. This is to avoid heavier cost and also get the boys to settle down before the game against Brazil on Sunday.

“The first batch (eight players and coach) should have left today (Tuesday) but there were not enough seats on the last lap of the journey, from Mexico City to Guadalajara. Our travel agents are working hard to secure space for them by tomorrow, Wednesday. So they are expected to depart Lagos by 12 noon with Ethiopia Airlines.”

“This will help us to secure our presence and avoid a global sanction. Hoping with additional funds, the reserve team can depart on Thursday or Friday,”  The former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi hopes to support the
team with money and kits,” co-ordinator of fund-raising, Fred Edoreh, told BBC Sport.

The team have missed the last three editions of the World for the same reason.