Etisalat FC/Barcelona U-17 Schools' Cup champions Arrive UAE

Winners of the Etisalat  FC Barcelona U-17 school cup, arrived in Abu Dhabi today

Winners of the 2013 Etisalat/FC Barcelona Under-17 Schools Cup competition, Keke High School, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos arrived the Abu Dhabi International Airport, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the early hours of today (Thursday) for the international school friendly against Al Yasmina School, UAE.

The international friendly, billed for Monday, January 13 in Abu Dhabi, is expected to excite lovers of youth football in both countries while also exposing the talents of the young footballers at the international stage.

Relieving their experience of the all-expense paid trip to UAE, the players were full of praises to the management of Etisalat for making their dreams come true. “Initially, I thought it was all a joke until we left the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and here we are in Dubai,” said Team Captain Richard Sodje.

Speaking in the same vein, Abel Mustapha, one of the club’s strikers said the memories of the trip will linger for long in his heart.

“I am grateful to Etisalat for making this dream come to reality for me and my family within a very short time of my playing career. This experience is a very big motivation for me.” He said.

The players and their coach, Ojo Julius Afolabi, will this morning visit the Aquarium tunnel and Underwater Zoo in Dubai as part of events lined up for the trip. In the evening, they will visit the Dubai Desert Safari before they begin preparations for the face-off with Al Yasima School.

It will be recalled that the Etisalat FCB U17 schools championship, a 5-aside tourney involving 16 schools in Lagos kicked off 1st August, 2013 and rounded off with a thrilling final at the Campos Square Mini Stadium, Lagos Island with Keke High School carting home the trophy, winning prize money of N1 million.