The victorious Golden Eaglets side from the 2013 FIFA U17 Men's World Cup in Abu Dhabi are still hopeful that the house gifts promised by the then Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke would be given to them. To this effect, they are pinning their hopes on the present Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade to redeem the pledge made by Imoke.
Imoke made the promise three years ago during the reception organised for the team at the State House in Calabar on November 15, 2013, seven days after their triumph in Abu Dhabi, Imoke said: "We want to partner and invest in you because we believe this kind of investment (house property) would yield better dividends in the future even if you no longer want anything to do with football."
On the failure to receive their pledge, title-winning coach Manu Garba said: "It is three years now that we won the World Cup and the then Governor Imoke pledged all the 21 players and 10 officials houses as rewards, but it is unfortunate that we are yet to be given these houses despite several appeals."
Cross River State indigenes like Godwin Saviour and Denis Okon as well as the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP), Kelechi Iheanacho, are members of the team. On the matter, Godwin Saviour, who presently plays for Belgian side Roeselare, said: "It's really painful that we don't have our houses even after three years and I wonder why they are yet to give us the houses promised by former Governor Imoke."
"We just have to keep begging our new Governor and pray they give us these houses because we did the state and Nigeria proud in 2013." he concluded.
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