Former
Director-General of National Sports Commission (NSC), Patrick Ekeji has advised
the government to secure the future of the players through mentorship rather
than conferring them with National honours. For the fifth time, the Amuneke tutored-side recently became the only second team to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a 2-0 win against Mali. Speaking to newsmen in Owerri on Tuesday the ex-coach noted that the
players ought to be nurtured into complete, professional footballers.
Director-General of National Sports Commission (NSC), Patrick Ekeji has advised
the government to secure the future of the players through mentorship rather
than conferring them with National honours. For the fifth time, the Amuneke tutored-side recently became the only second team to retain the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a 2-0 win against Mali. Speaking to newsmen in Owerri on Tuesday the ex-coach noted that the
players ought to be nurtured into complete, professional footballers.
“The
whole idea of the age group championship is to bring the young players together
in a sporting environment to showcase their talents. We should be more
worried about the future of these young talents and not to confer National
honours on them.
whole idea of the age group championship is to bring the young players together
in a sporting environment to showcase their talents. We should be more
worried about the future of these young talents and not to confer National
honours on them.
He continued,
“In
Spain for example, most of the national players are still playing in their
domestic leagues but in Nigeria, the case is different. “If Nigeria’s
world rating must improve, we must assemble all our youthful players and
nurture them to transit into the senior team,’’ he said.
“In
Spain for example, most of the national players are still playing in their
domestic leagues but in Nigeria, the case is different. “If Nigeria’s
world rating must improve, we must assemble all our youthful players and
nurture them to transit into the senior team,’’ he said.