Portsmouth Football Club News

Kanu and John Utaka joined Pompey in their first training session at the Abuja National Stadium. The Nigerian pair limbered up with the rest of the 24-man squad in a workout on Saturday watched by more than 100 armed Nigerian police. Utaka and Kanu were linking up with their team-mates for the first time since the FA Cup victory parade around Portsmouth two months ago. The duo, of course, combined for Pompey’s winner against Cardiff at Wembley – Utaka crossing for Kanu to score. Kanu, sporting an elaborate new braided hairstyle, was cheered by locals as he boarded the team coach at the club’s hotel in Abuja ahead of training. Niko Kranjcar, who got married earlier this month, and Lassana Diarra were also back with the team. The pair were given an extra couple of weeks off because of their involvement in Euro 2008. Glen Little, who limped out of the Blues’ 4-1 win at Bournemouth with a sore thigh, also trained. People had stopped and waved as Pompey’s coach, escorted by police, crept through the streets of Nigeria’s purpose-built capital in the country’s interior. A handful of members of the public watched training at the impressive arena with its yellow, orange, pink and purple seats. One woman wore a T-shirt with a picture of Kanu lifting the FA Cup above the words: “I Love Nigeria – Thank You Jesus”. Pompey’s players jogged around the pitch before passing the ball between each other in small groups. The squad regularly stopped for drinks in the humid yet overcast conditions. The session lasted less than an hour before the players boarded their coach back to the hotel. Manchester United arrive in Abuja on Sunday ahead of their friendly with Pompey at the Abuja Stadium – a dress rehearsal for the Community Shield a fortnight later. The games follows Pompey’s clash with Nigerian Premier League Champions Kano Pillars at the same venue on Saturday.

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