Kanu storms S/Africa with Portsmouth - Pompey’s first Nigeria match shifted 24 hours

23.07.2008

KanuNigeria's Nwankwo Kanu and his English Premier League side, Portsmouth are already in South Africa prior to its pre-season clash with Manchester United in Nigeria.

Former Hellenic coach and Fifa football agent, Richard Gomes, who is a very close friend of the Portsmouth manager, wooed Harry Redknapp’s side to the Mother City.

He told KickOff.com that the team would be training at Ajax, and also spending time at a game reserve. “Portsmouth arrived Monday,” he said “They’ll be training here for three days and then leave on the Thursday morning early to go to a game reserve for the day. I’ve arranged for them to train at Ajax.

After that, they face Manchester United on Sunday in Nigeria on their way back to the UK.” There was speculation that Portsmouth might play a match against Santos, but the club’s media and communication’s manager Rodney Reiners is in the dark about that.“There was some speculation along those lines,” he says.

“We did have a tentative meeting with them and they were supposed to get back to us. At the moment I have no confirmation about anything in terms of a match and we are waiting for them to come back to us.”

Meanwhile, the first match of English Premiership side, Portsmouth during its pre-season tour of Nigeria has been put back 24 hours. The match against either the senior national team, the Super Eagles or a Globacom Premier League side will now take place on Saturday, at 7.45 p.m.

According to a statement on Pompey’s official website, the Harry Redknapp side will then face European champion, Manchester United on Sunday, also at 7.45 p.m. Both matches will be played at the Abuja National Stadium.