Manu Garba: Imoke yet to gift us houses promised for winning 2013 U17 World Cup

Manu Garba, the former head coach of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, says he is yet to receive the house gift promised by Cross River government after he led the team to the 2013 FIFA men’s U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Garba led Nigeria to the country’s fourth FIFA men’s U-17 World Cup trophy in 2013. The team defeated Mexico 3-0 in the final to claim the title.

Notable players from the squad include Kelechi Iheanacho, who finished as the tournament’s best player, and Taiwo Awoniyi, among others.

After the triumph, Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River, hosted the team and pledged house gifts to every player and official on the team.

“We want to make an investment with you in property,” Imoke had said.

“We have a new housing estate already being developed, and at the end of the completion of the estate, each one of you will have a small piece of property that is your own and that would have been fully developed that you can rent out or occupy.”

Imoke was the governor of Cross River from 2007 to 2015.

However, Garba, speaking on Thursday, said the pledge has not been redeemed to any member of the World Cup-winning squad 10 years later.

He added that a member of the technical crew had died without the promise being fulfilled.

Garba then called on John Enoh, the sports minister, to intervene in the matter “to ensure that justice is done on our behalf”.

“We were all excited when Governor Imoke made the pronouncement at the Government House in Calabar. Of course, I know that a change of government in the state could have cost us the pledge from being redeemed. But we simply can’t lose hope,” he said.

“The World Cup-winning team of 2013 was the baby of the Cross River state government because we were camped at the Princeville Hotel in Calabar for many months, and we played all our qualifying matches there.

“I am seeking the intervention of the current Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, who coincidentally hails from Cross River state, to ensure that justice is done on our behalf. This year, we lost the hard-working equipment manager of the team, Muhammed Kafa, and I think redeeming the housing pledge to us now would serve the memory of the departed team member well.”