From Romanus Ugwu
The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi, has dismissed the insinuations that the poor outing of the Super Eagles B team at the recently concluded CHAN tournament was a reflection of the Nigerian league.
Sanusi spoke in Abuja on Tuesday, September 2, at the formal presentation of trophies to the league’s best coach and highest scorer in last season’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
He argued that while players from other countries hardly leave to play football outside their countries, he receives no fewer than 20 letters from players invited by foreign clubs.
He described this as a significant advantage, noting that the country has over 1,000 professional footballers across the globe.
He said: “I want to touch on something very important, that we need to put the record straight. There are reports from some quarters talking about the performance of the CHAN team and saying that it was a reflection of our league, and I stand to say no, and a capital No.
“We probably need to let people know that Nigeria has been a talent-hunting ground to the extent that once a player knows how to trap a football, pass a ball, and dribble the ball, the next thing is he becomes a professional footballer.
“So, while we try to get these players to stay in our league to mature, we are restricted by FIFA regulations that once you get a club, you must be allowed to go. In the case of other countries, there is nobody going to their places to look for talent.
“I want to let you know that the NPFL has achieved a lot. The new thinking, as far as football is concerned, is not just about the league; it is also about the football economy. Every day in my office, I receive no fewer than 20triangular arbitrage 20 letters from players invited by foreign clubs. That is a very big plus, and that is why I believe we have over 1,000 professional footballers across the globe.
“Most of these countries that we play with hardly get five or 10 professional players. So, the performance of the CHAN team is not a reflection of our league. Take that home. Therefore, we should do everything humanly possible to support the league to continue to do what they are doing.
“We have seen how we address the issue of officiating. We have seen how you go and play an away match, lose, and come back happy because you knew that you were not cheated. We see how people are trying to associate themselves with the league.
“Therefore, rather than castigating the league falsely, what we need to do is to support the league so that they will continue to bring more revenue to the country through the players that go out. Because, whether we like it or not, once they go out, whatever they get, they bring part of it back home, and that has helped greatly in improving the economy.
“I must say congratulations to the league, and I must say that for the doubting Thomases, please think before you talk, because the records are there to show. I congratulate you, the NFF is solidly behind you, and you continue to grow,” Sanusi said.
