C.O.D United presents teams for new season, promises to continue culture of excellence

Former Lagos FA Cup Champions C.O.D United FC of Lagos held its squad presentation event with the players and management declaring their readiness to continue the success the club has achieved in its short existence.

The ceremony which was held at the C.O.D City grounds of the club saw all the 7 teams in the C.O.D United football structure-the only club in Nigeria with such a structure- presented to fans also featured the unveiling of former 3SC, Bukola Babes and Sharks of Port Harcourt coach Festus Allen as manager of the first team and former Super Falcons captain and manager Eucharia Uche as manager of C.O.D United Amazons, the clubs Ladies team.

Special guest at the occasion was Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, Pastor in Charge of City of David Parish of the Redeemed Church of God and other pastors of the church. The C.O.D Marching band, the only band in Nigerian football also added colour and glamour to the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive of the club, Shola Opaleye reminded the players and fans of the club's culture of excellence and its litany of on and off-pitch achievements and outlined the club's objective for the season while urging the players and coaching staff to remain focused and disciplined throughout the new season. He challenged them to live up the expectations of management and fans while assuring them that as always, management has put all in place to ensure their comfort.

On his part, Pastor Iluyomade charged the players not to only focus on becoming better players but better human being by applying the DIET (Discipline, Integrity, Excellence and Teamwork) curriculum of the club to their lives. He challenged them to not only bring glory to the name of God through winning but also by striving for excellence in their everyday lives.

He assured them of the support of the church and said he would be looking forward to celebrate many victories and achievements in the upcoming season. C.O.D United's first team will campaign in the Nigerian National League hoping to gain promotion to the NPFL while its teams in the academy will campaign in various cup competitions. Its female team, C.O.D Ladies will defend their Lagos FA Cup title and also campaign in the female professional league. Altogether, with its 143 players, C.O.D United teams are planned to play 240 matches in 2016.

Man United: Boss denies claims Thrown in against FC Midtjylland after a warm-up injury to Anthony Martial, Rashford netted a brace to help United win that do-or-die Europa League clash. Another double a few days later in the 3-2 victory over Arsenal increased the feel-good factor and alleviated the pressure mounting on manager Van Gaal. Talk of Jose Mourinho replacing him has quietened, if not disappeared, since Rashford burst on to the scene, but the Dutchman was clearly irked by suggestions the teenager saved his job. "(The young players) want to prove and they want to show to the world, to the manager, to everybody, that they are the best, so they always give spirit to a team," Van Gaal said. "That is why we have decided not to invest in January and I have said that already two months ago, but you don't want to believe it. The policy is to have a small selection and then you can give youngsters a chance. "Now I have read that Rashford is saving me. No, no, Rashford is thanks to my policy, and the club, of course, (and he) has proved that. "He is there because of that and the same thing for (Cameron) Borthwick-Jackson, (Guillermo) Varela and a lot of other players. "But they have to prove it because it is very risky to do that. Youngsters are not consistent, we are talking about consistency. "There are of course exceptions like Martial, but that is a big exception. "Most of the players cannot show that every week, so it is a big risk, but, at the end, we are in three competitions still and the team has more spirit and the older players are coming back."

Read more at: https://www.clubcall.com/manchester-united/boss-denies-claims-1-1802322.html