Flying Eagles coach John Obuh has defended his players who will observe the Muslim
Ramadan fasting even during Sunday's AYC qualifier against Tanzania, saying it gives them spiritual power which rates higher than physical strength.

Several of Obuh's Flying Eagles will go ahead with the fasting and the coach said on a special Royal Fm 95.1 programme Friday morning that he is confident this will not affect their performance.

"The players fasting should not be a problem because it is for their own good and will give them more spiritual strength, which is a bigger force than sheer physical power," Obuh said on ‘Sports File' programme.

His team were also observing the fasting when they featured at last year's FIFA U20 World Cup in Colombia and reached the last eight.

The Flying Eagles have equally observed special Christian and Muslim prayers for this clash.

On Sunday, the Flying Eagles will defend a 2-1 first leg victory against the Ngorogoro Heroes of Tanzania in continuation of the qualifying series for the 2013 African Youth Championship.

"Ilorin has given me so many victories (when he was coach of local team Kwara United) and it will again give me victory on Sunday," said Obuh, whose team beat Kwara United and Prime FC in warm-up games leading to this match.

In the meantime, defender Aliyu Mohammed has rejoined the team after he returned to his base in Ukraine soon after the first leg in Tanzania.

The Tanzanians, made up of 18 players and nine officials, arrived Ilorin Friday morning from Lagos.

They are booked at Kingstone Hotel, Offa Garage.

They will train Friday afternoon at the Kwara Football Academy before having their final workout on Saturday at the match venue.