The minister of youth and sports development, Sunday Dare has tasked former Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha to clone a player in his image to help solve the team’s midfield woes.
He stated this during the official tour of the UEFA Champions League trophy in his office at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Wednesday.
“We are waiting for you to give us your clone for our midfield so that the challenges can end. I encourage you to clone someone quickly,” he said.
Dare stated that Nigeria is a football-loving nation, that has had a strong attachment to the Champions League over the years.
He stated further that “the tour Ambassador, Clarence Seedorf is one of the most successful players in UEFA Champions League history, as he is the first and currently the only player to have won the UEFA Champions League Trophy with three clubs.”
The Minister who called on Nigerian youth to get themselves involved in sporting activities, assured that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is ever committed to the development of sports in the country, adding that Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Finidi George, Kanu Nwankwo and Daniel Amokachi represent the golden generation of Nigeria in football till today.
Speaking further, he highlighted the impact Nigerians have made in the Champions League over the years and has extended his best wishes to Villarreal winger, Samuel Chukwueze for his heroics in Tuesday’s game against Bayern Munich.
Chukwueze was on the pitch for just three minutes and 51 seconds when he scored the goal in the 88th which sent the German side, Bayern Munich out of the competition.
“Nigerians have made very significant contributions to the UEFA Champions League over the years. Finidi George, Kanu Nwankwo were teammates with our dear friend, Clarence Seedorf. They were the first Nigerians to win the trophy in 1995.
“In 2012, John Mikel Obi helped Chelsea to win the competition. Earlier in 1992, it is on record that the person to score the first goal under the current format was Daniel Amokachi.
“Finally, one of our players and son, Samuel Chukwueze was a major influence in helping his club reach the semi-finals by beating the favourites, Bayern Munich. I, therefore, wish the only Nigerian left in this competition the best of luck,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and the Corporate Affairs Manager of Nigerian Breweries, Shade Morgan, while officially presenting the trophy to the Honourable Minister, said that the presentation of the trophy was among other things, aimed at boosting the morale of Nigerian Youth towards sporting activities to make themselves self-employed and self-reliant so as to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria economy.
