Omeruo, a member of the silver-winning Golden Eaglets at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria, told the budding youngsters desirous of making the Chile-bound 2015 World Cup team to count themselves very lucky, adding only hard work and prayers can see them through.
"My mission here today is to come and encourage you and from my own experience, it is only hard work that can get you to the top," said the Chelsea defender who is on loan at Middlesbrough in the English Premier League."I met a huge crowd more than what I saw here today when I came for the Golden Eaglets screening in 2009; though we, Nigerians always believe you must know somebody to make it, I was able to make the team and got to play through hard work and prayers."
Speaking further, he enjoined the players to guide against acts of indiscipline and listen attentively to the instructions of the technical crew.
Ken Omeruo
Golden Eaglets' captain Kelechi Nwakali, who spoke on behalf of the players, thanked Omeruo for the encouraging visit, pledging that the youngsters would tow the inspiring path of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner.
"We are happy that you are here today to give us useful advice," Nwakali said matter-of-fact."You are our hero and we are going to do everything you have told us in order to make Nigeria proud in Chile."
Coach Emmanuel Amuneke rounded off the session by also commending the surprise guest even as he praised the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) for its support to the Golden Eaglets.
"Once again, I want to use this opportunity to thank the NFF for giving me the type of people I'm working with because their experiences have been of tremendous help in moulding these boys," noted the former African Footballer of the Year. "We are not only teaching these boys how to play football but we want them to be useful members of the society in the future and I want to thank the technical crew and backroom staff in this regard."
The 1996 Olympic football gold medal winner further said the Golden Eaglets technical crew was making painstaking efforts in selection of the players due to the obvious challenges at this level, adding he was confident Nigeria would be hard to beat in Chile come October.
