₦airaland Forum

Icon4s:
Emmanuel Amuneke: Featured first for Nigeria at the 1991 AAG as a 20yrs old. Former African Footballer of the year, African nations cup winner, Olympic Gold medalist, scored twice in the 1994 world cup, former Barcelona winger, adjudged to be the best left wing forward in the world during his time at Barcelona.

Celestine Babayaro: Featured first for Nigeria's U17 in 1993 as a 15yrs old. U17 World Cup winner, scored at the 1998 FIFA WC, Olympic Gold medalist, former Chelsea and Newcastle left back.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni: Featured first for Nigeria's 2000 Olympics team as a 17yrs old. 3rd highest goal scorer in Nigeria's football history, played for Middlesbrough, Everton, Leichester City amongst others, 2nd highest scoring African ever in the EPL (jst behind Drogba).

Nwankwo Kanu: Featured first for Nigeria's U20 in 1993 before being sent to the U17 same year. FIFA U17 WC winner, Olympic gold medalist, UEFA Champions league winner, Former African footballer of the year, English Premier league winner, English FA Cup winner, played for Ajax, Intermilan, Arsenal amongst others, finished top 10 in FIFA Ballon D' Or list.

Victor Ikpeba: Featured first for Nigeria's U17 in 1989 as a 16 yrs old. Olympic gold medalist, Played for AS Monaco, then under Arsene Wenger, scoring 13 league goals to help Monaco win the league title in the 1996/97 season, and also finishing as the second-top goals scorer in the 1996–97 UEFA Cup, 1997 African footballer of the year, scored at the 1998 FIFA WC

Augustine Okocha: Featured first for Nigeria's U20 in 1993 as a 19yrs old. Olympic Gold medalist, 1994 AFCON winner, played for Eintract Frankfurt, PSG, Bolton wonderes, Hall City amongst others, former BBC African player of the year winner.

These guys are some of the products of our youths system and most to me are better than Alaba. You can take that to the bank.

I am not saying we have not produced great players from our youths system. There will always be only one Kanu, Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar etc in a generation. And in this generation Alaba is far better than what have presently in Super Eagles.

Nevertheless, Alaba achievement has surpassed all you have mentioned above. Maybe with the exception of Kanu, because of the FIFA best player listing, apart from that he has won more medals than him and he is a better player than kanu.

Note: Kanu was not in the top ten of Ballon d'or, he was only nominated. While, he was voted no 6 FIFA best player of the year.

Check out David_Alaba's profile

1, key player in one of the best and biggest club in the World. Bayern Munich.
2, Won Bundesliga 4 times, Runner-up 1
3, DFB-PoskaL 3 times
4, UEFA champions league once, Runner-up twice
5, Dfl- Super cup 2 times
6, Fifa club world cup once
7, UEFA super cup
8, Austria footballer of the year 5 times
9, Austria personalty of the year 2 times
10, UEFA team of the year 2 times
11, ESM team of the year once and.....
12, UEFA Champions League team of the group stage 2015 ...
13, 2015 FIFA Ballon d'or Nominees ...still counting.

Icon4s:
Makanjuola only came in as a second half sub in that 3-3 draw against Sweden. He was far from being adequate and was subsequently permently dropped to d benches for d rest of d tourney.

You are wrong sir, Makanjuola only came in as a second half sub in the first match against Mexico. He came in the 82nd minutes as the youngest player for Nigeria at 14 years. How can you access him with 7 minutes to the end of a match?

shogz89:
did he play throughout the tournament?

No, besides Ronaldo went to 1994 world Cup with Brazil but he didn't get to play. The rest is history.

TheGoodJoe:
I honestly believe the handlers should have dropped Makanjuola. There were other youngsters like Godwin Savior who could have taken his place.

But, if the coaches felt they want the continuity of the talent spotted in a National talent hunt by playing him with the National team set up. It is not such a bad idea.

So, I do not know why the deviated or bent the norm for Makanjuola.

Alaba on the other hand was a professional footballer. He was even in a far better condition than Alaba. If you believe that if we are using the U17 to promote grassroot talents, that Makanjuola a Chelsea academy player should not make the team, why are you furious of the Coaches dropping a professional European footballer?

I am glad you admitted that you do not know why they deviated or bent for Makanjuola and others(foreign based) to fight for a shirt lately. Maybe it's the new trend to search for talented players.

I believe that we are using U17 to promote grassroot talents hence my support for any talented players regardless of where they are based. That's my point and we can see NFF also concur to it.

Alaba was still in the Fk Austria Wien Academy in 2007.

There is a difference between training and playing with the first team. Nwakali Chidebere has been training with Man City first team but he has not played for the team.

George Evans was training with the first team but they have not played.

I made a mistake then, at 2007 Alaba was already with the Bayern young team and they trained with the first team although they are not part of the squad.

Same thing goes on with Barca.

Nigeria is not as developed as the Europeans. That is why the Europeans can pick up players from top clubs to play the U17 World Cup.

The Nigerian way is the best considering the situation of the country. How many grassroot football programs do we have that expose our young boys to top scout oversees?

The Europeans have a lot. So Alaba was bound to become a star. We can not drop a young boy in a village in Nigeria whose only hope to make something out of his life. For a boy based in Europe who has all the facility, equipments and scout watching him.

Coach Tella and Coach Manu Garba were 100% right in rejecting Alaba.

We use the U17 as a tool for grassroot development. It is a nice ideology and I stand by it.

You are talking out of point. The context is not who sent Makanjuola overseas but why was he included in the squad despite him being based overseas. Which is an irregularity with what we saw in the past.

I pointed out that Makanjuola was discovered in a National Youth Project. So it might have been a continuation of a grassroot project.

So i wonder how you brought in who sent him to London and hustling parents sent their kids to academies.

In the same context, I pointed out that Alaba was already a professional footballer and Makanjuola was not a professional at that time.

My point is too clear. I wonder why you are bringing another issue into the debate.

Because the @bolded is what you said earlier. So, Habib Makanjuola should have been dropped for a young boy in the village whose hope is to make something out of life. For Habib Makanjuola based in Europe who has all the facilities, equipments and scouts watching him.

TheGoodJoe:
You are putting a boy discovered by a National project in Nigeria in the same group as a boy born in Austria and became a professional player in Austria.

Makanjuola was an academy player in Chelsea. He did not even have work permit.

Alaba was a professional footballer, earning from football at that time.

The National project was only to discover talents but it was not the National project that paid for his trip to Europe. Someone paid for him.

Who paid for Alaba and other Nigerians born abroad to play in Academy? Hustling Nigerian parents or well wishers.

Habib Makanjuola was doing well before he came to play for the U17. So, he have been dropped for those who are not doing well as you earlier said.

TheGoodJoe:
Them given a chance to play does not mean they were selected. I repeat you do not know more than Coach Tella.

Doing Tella's era, they weren't given the chance but after the mistake, NFF decided to give them the chance. That remains the point.

TheGoodJoe:
As if I have not seen his video in Redeemed when he was thanking his papa. Abi, his Adeboye sponsored the YSFON tournament.

Maybe I am typing too fast. Alaba was a professional footballer. When Habib joined the U17, was he a professional footballer?

So, what is your problem.

YSFON tournament didn't sponsor the boy to Europe. Someone paid for him to go to Abroad and it's not different from Alaba or any other Nigerians who arewere sponsored by their parents to play abroad.

Alaba was already doing well in Chelsea.

TheGoodJoe:
[b]Which kind no schism?

How many foreigners have you seen playing in our U17?

How man professional league players in Europe have you seen playing in our U17?

Answer and tell me no schism.

What is funny about this whole Alaba thing is that. When I first heard it, which was in I think 2010. I went Ballistic and I wanted Coach Siasia's head on a plater.

How could Coach Siasia reject Alaba. We planned a massive campaign on Facebook against Coach Siasia.

When I read the interview and I read that it was Coach Tella and his crew, and they rejected him because he did not fit into the U17 grassroot development project, not Coach Siasia's U20 team, I understood immediately without any fuss.

Now you are here, not because of Schism but you look down on the Nigerian development system. That is a fact.

I have seen you call our players mediocre repeatedly because they are not playing in foreign clubs.

You are not a member of the NFF, I do not believe you are a journalist who has worked with Nigerian youth coaches. You do not understand their operations and you have a very vague idea of Nigerian football.

You can not know more about the Nigerian youth System than Coach Yemi Tella who was a member of the NFF technical committee.

So all you are writing can not prove anything.

By the way, I am still waiting to know what your problem is.[/b]

Sir, we don't need to go back and forth. The point remains that, NFF gave them the chance to prove themselves. It is now left for the coach to choose from the array of talents at his disposal. So,that another mistake will not reoccur.

TheGoodJoe:
Did you see them select those foreign players?

Answer what your problem is. I have been waiting.

But at least, you are now aware that there is no schism in the NFF policy when it comes to our country grassroot project.

TheGoodJoe:
We do not know the bases for Habib Makanjuola they invited Habib Makanjuola. The boy was a National project since he was under 10.
For instance, if YSFON that played a role in the development of football in Nigeria want to start grooming stars and they wanted to see the effect of their project.

Is it difficult to understand. Habib Makanjuola was a grassroot development project. I believe they were continuing their process.

So what is your problem?

Thank you sir, It means what you said earlier was totally wrong because Habib was already doing well before he was invited to play for the U17.

Please, kindly note that NFF didn't sponsor Habib, it was Pastor Adebayo that sponsored him to go for a trial in Chelsea and the guy did well.

TheGoodJoe:
[b]Leave your condescending tone. You can ridicule the boys as much as you want but it does not change the fact that these boys have defeated the so called European players with all the facilities, equipments and coaching to lift the U17 titles back to back.

The system is working and until tomorrow, the U17 will continue producing great players from the grassroot. Why are Arsenal and Wolfsburg fighting for Osimhen. I thought all good players come from their systems.

You are calling the U17 champions chop I chop.

You can hate on them but they will continue shining. There is no proof Amunike would carry the foreign base players.

What is boiling you? I have asked you repeatedly, what is your problem? You are ranting and shouting and calling local talents like Iheanacho and Success chop I chop players.

Are you not a hater? I guess Oruma ans Kanu Nwankwo are chop and chop players. It is paining you that local boys can grow up to become big stars through football.

Tell me what is your problem?[/b]

Sir, it's necessary to get the essence of the whole issue and that is the reason for those questions.

You said it is a fact that NFF is using the U17 for only grassroot players. Then, I asked you, why did the same NFF bothered to invite foreign based players for selection prior to the last world Cup?

Please,kindly answer this question. Thanks

TheGoodJoe:
[b]Thanks and to you and to my people out there.

safarigirl, doyinisaac, Cecediva, drshrewd, justicejay, forgiveness, arresa, ProudOlodo, MathsChic, Oshiogwemoh, ricsman, sharperino, surveycash, omenka, DrTee1, mrham03, enomakos, AleAirHub, rabzy, Ymodulus, dekkd, tbaba1234, CFCfan, clementcro, erumena, davodyguy, honeric01, semid4lyfe, Eruditor, raumdeuter, SolarPower13, Rapsodee, 2sex, mastercee, edi287, nairamakerhome, lovemko, nsyforreal, Obinoscopy, 9jatriot, kobonaire, Bimffo, coded01, ClintonNzedimma, BlackPikiN, jpphilips, BankoleNco, phreakabit, Monsieuruz, olarevo, ojdollars, aforosco, abfan, heatmeup, debosky, Billyonaire, ghettodreamz, freecocoa, rozayx5, Whizkel, Sarahn, jobsat34, Horus, Tikitaka, Baddestguyp, Sophyrocks, texazzpete, maasoap, PStacks, vedaxcool, joseph1013, tuffgongjo, arsetalks, Nihilist, peterdrury, ayukdaboss, donphilopus, UniqueGem, Afam4eva, Demdem, lovemaths, davidflipcy, makzeze, Nebuchadnezar, RedArrow, Gbawe, jmaine, iamsodium, cramjones


May this Christmas season and the New Year bring joy, peace & happiness to you, your entire family and friends.[/b]

Thank you.

Out of his fulness you have received grace in place of grace already given, this is all I wish you.

TheGoodJoe:
Why do you keep bringing up Alaba's issue? Coach Yemi Tella and Coach Manu Garba did not do anything wrong. They all knew Alaba was a super talent. He was already training with the Bayern Main team before he contacted the coaches.

The U17 is for Grassroot development and not for those already doing well. We use the U17 to boost the local young boys in the country to provide better life for their friends and family. Bringing a boy about to break into Bayern Munich beats the whole grassroot development ideology.

Nothing stopped Alaba from waiting and alerting Coach Siasia for the U20 World Cup. There was no way Coach Siasia could have rejected him.

Alaba was wrong there and I hope he wins an international medal with Austria. I wonder what he was rushing for. He expected us to drop a grassroot player to play him.

@bolded

Sir, what do you say about Habib Makanjuola who is doing well before he was drafted into the U17?

Icon4s:
This is a simple case of not cherishing what u have. The believe that nothing good comes out of the home front.

I cherish good players but I detest mediocre ones. And it does not matter where they come from. That's all.

Icon4s:
None is playing top flight football. But what i have been telling u all along is the Nigerian youth system has produced better players than Alaba.

A system that has produced 5titles, highest for any country in the world is commendable and should be sustained.

U cannot undermine this system jst bc of Alaba.And u cannot flood our national team with every Nigerian half cast u see in Europe jst bc u want to avoid "the Alaba case ".

Thank God you admitted that the U17 2007 grass roots project was a failure.

Do you mean Emmanuel Amunike, Celestine Babayaro, Tijani Babangida, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and even Kanu Nwankwo are better than Alaba?

TheGoodJoe:
You are avoiding the fact. Grassroot development is not to make all the players turn to Pele but to give them a chance to have better lives.

After the tournament, they got houses and money from the government and companies. Some will use the money to start business and put the houses on rent. Some will give the money to their parents to raise regular income for their families.

Some will use the money to travel oversees to pursue their footballing careers. Some will use the money to further their education.

The grassroot development is not just for football also but to make them better people in the society.

Marcauley Chrisantus, AEK Athens
Ibrahim Rabiu, Trencin
Haruna Lukman, Anzhi Makachkala

So this is a system to give young boys a way out of the struggle of life with their talents. Some of them even had a chance to play for clubs in the home sides.

Fact! O I see, you mean your opinion right?

If what you said is the fact, why did NFF bothered to invite foreign based players for selection prior to the last U17 World Cup?

Why was 1 foreign based player(already in a club) included in the 2013 U17 World Cup?

As you can see NFF was searching for talented players to fortify the team and not chop I chop players as you've wrongful portrayed.

So, can you compare them with the ignored one?

Orkpekyandega:

But every body deserves a chance.
Besides you don't have to use one or some players performance with the national team to make such generalizations.

Am afraid, we are about to miss another good striker (Alaba) in Forgiveness' voice.

You can't tell, he might be our another saving scorer if we had done the needful earlier on. It's too late now though.

Yes oo. In Forgiveness' voice.

Orkpekyandega:
[b][size=14pt]
The Kehinde Fatai Snub: Should Nigeria chase the hitman?
[/size]
https://static.goal.com/di/F208386C4953CB779912436F5A69F20E.jpg
Evidently, Fatai seems a ready-made option to take-up this role compared to Iwobi (19), who is still honing his trade at Arsenal, for example, or Obafemi Martins (31), who can’t have too much longer in the tank.

Furthermore, to gain Fatai’s services, the NFF and coaches do not need to embark on a fierce do-or-die high-way chase for his signature, as was the case with Ibe, Alli and many others.

He has confessed his readiness and ‘dream’ to play for his fatherland, with the only obstacle a lack of opportunity and faith in his abilities, hence the attraction from Romania.

“It’s my dream since I was little, I really wanted to play for Nigeria,” he told Goal.
https://static.goal.com/di/8BA72C9D7FA98D31BA450BDA3C03F125.jpg
“I will not say I deserve (to play for Nigeria) or maybe they do not think I deserve it. But not all Nigerian football players playing in Europe play in these tournaments (Champions League and Europa League), and I’m not just present there, I’m playing very well there. So I think I deserve (a chance) maybe; I am not saying it is obligatory.”
John Fashanu, perhaps, tops the lists of players of Nigerian origin who were, in the words of Rafiu Ladipo, “used and dumped”, by other nations, with little or nothing to show for their international football careers.

To think that Nigeria may be at the end of such scorching mockery in future should not be discounted.

“Why did we let Kehinde Fatai go?” we may ask in future, and bitterly, too.
m.goal.com/x/en-ng/news/4079/features/2015/12/21/18491232/the-kehinde-fatai-snub-should-nigeria-chase-the-hitman
[/b]

CC: Icon4s, Forgiveness, Mikron, e.t.c...............

Bros, I still can't fantom the criteria used for inviting players into the National team because if you do well it doesn't matter. What matters most is who is your god father and how close you are to the National coach or na my brother.

They said the boy flopped when he was called but those saying so has forgotten Odion Ighalo also flopped in the age group competition. But where is he now? The man God has blessed no man can curse.

Nigerians don't go for players currently in form but they go for players they want.

This boy deserves to be tested in the SEagles. That is all I have to say.

Umar makes inroads in Serie A


By: Sammy Wejinya | 21 Dec | 15:40
© supersport.com


Sadiq Umar © Getty Images
Sadiq Umar scored a beautiful goal in Serie A for AS Roma to announce himself on the the big stage on Sunday.

The 18-year-old attacker read William Vainqueur's cross to perfection as he took out five defenders to plant home an emphatic header past Mattia Perin to give the Giallorossi a 2-0 lead over Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico.

It was Umar’s first Serie A goal in just 38 minutes of action spanning three league games.

Umar was not the only Nigeria that produced goalscoring heroics for his club on the old continent at the weekend as supersport.com now rounds up the best of the action from the top leagues in Europe.

England (Premier League)

Peter Odemwingie is still sidelined with injury and did not play a part in the Potters’ 1-2 defeat to Crystal Palace at the Britannia Stadium.

John Obi Mikel was a second-half substitute for Chelsea in the Blues’ 3-1 win over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

The Super Eagles midfielder replaced Cesc Fabregas in the 71st minute.

No one can put a good man down and it seems no one can put Odion Ighalo down as the attacker put in yet another man-of-the-match performance for Watford in the 3-0 win over Liverpool at Vicarage Road.

Ighalo has scored 12 league goals for the Hornets this season.

Germany (Bundesliga)

It was yet another sad day for Anthony Ujah whose Werder Bremen side remain in the relegation zone after a 1-2 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt at Commerzbank-Arena.

Ujah missed a string of chances in the game as the Bundesliga entered the winter break.

Leon Balogun was not listed for Mainz 05 in the club’s 0-2 loss to Hertha BSC at Olympiastadion Berlin.

Italy (Serie A)

Sadiq Umar required only seven minutes to make his mark with a goal after replacing Mohammed Salah late in the second half as AS Roma beat Genoa 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Ogenyi Onazi was an unused substitute for SS Lazio in the 2-1 win over Internazionale at SanSiro.

Spain (Primera División)

Success Isaac played all 90 minutes for Granada in the 0-2 loss to Celta Viga at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes.

Uche Agbo was a second-half substitute for Granada.

France (Ligue 1)

Vincent Enyeama was in action for all 90 minutes and helped Lille OSC claim a point after drawing 1-1 with Reims at Stadium Municipal.

Elderson Echiejile played the entire game for AS Monaco in the 0-0 draw with Troyes at Stade de l'Aube.

The Netherlands (Eredivisie)

Abiola Dauda was an unused substitute for Vitesse in the 5-1 win over Twente at GelreDome.

Bartholomew Ogbeche scored twice for Cambuur in the 4-1 win over Excelsior at Stadion Woudestein.

Turkey (Süper Lig)

Godfrey Oboabona played all 90 minutes for Caykur Rizespor in the 0-2 loss to Gaziantepspor at Kamil Ocak Stadyumu.

Gabriel Arokoyo and John Chibuike were both in action for the victors whose win lifts them to ninth on the log with 22 points from 16 matches.

Kenneth Omeruo played the entire game for Kasimpasa in the 2-1 win over Mersin Idmanyurdu at Mersin Arena.

Michael Eneramo played all 90 minutes for Sivasspor in the 0-0 draw with Kayserispor at 4. Eylül Stadyumu.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni came on late in the second half for Kayserispor as the visitors looked to snatch a late win.

Raheem Lawal was not listed for bottom club Eskisehirspor in the 1-2 defeat to Istanbul Basakesehir at Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu.

Portugal (Primeira Liga)

Anderson Esiti sat on the bench throughout Arouca’s 0-1 loss to Vitória Guimarães at Estádio António Coimbra da Mota.

Abdullahi Shehu was on from start to finish for União Madeira in the 1-0 win over Sporting CP at Estádio do Centro Desportivo da Madeira.

Scotland (Premiership)

Efe Ambrose was an unused substitute for Celtic in the 1-2 loss to Motherwell at Celtic.

Belgium (Premiership)

Wilfred Ndidi played all 90 minutes for Genk in the 3-0 over Sint-Truiden at Cristal Arena.

Moses Simon scored Gent’s opening goal in the 3-0 win over Kortrijk at GHELAMCO-arena.

Gent are still top of the table with 43 points from 20 matches.

Ezekiel Imoh was on from start to finish for Anderlecht in the 4-1 win over Club Brugge at Jan Breydels


http://ng.supersport.mobi/football/nigeria/news/151221/Umar_makes_inroads_in_Serie_A

Sadiq Umar scored his first goal in Serie A for AS Roma in their 2-0 win over Genoa on Sunday.

The 18-year-old was thrown into the fray as an 82nd minute substitute in place of Egyptian winger Mohammed Salah by club trainer Rudi Garcia.

Umar took his chance as he netted in the 89th minute in predatory fashion to seal maximum points for the Giallorossi.

He crept in behind the Genoa defence, outsmarting five players in the process as he headed past Mattia Peron following a great cross from William Vainqueur.

Umar, currently on loan from Serie B (second division) club Spezia, had only played twice previously for Roma in Serie A -- racking up just 30 minutes of action under his belt.

http://ng.supersports.mobi/football/nigeria/news/151220/Umar_hits_debut_goal_for_roma

Icon4s:
Mayb u jst started following Nigerian football. Ever heard of the following players?: Nwankwo Kanu, Austin Okocha, Emmanuel Amuneke, Celestine Babayaro, Tijani Babangida, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, even d recent Odion Ighalo.

First of all, you avoided my first question. I asked you, where are the players Tella snubbed for Alaba?

After you answer that I will come to this one.

Siasia never requested for Mikel'

By: Sammy Wejinya | 20 Dec | 14:41
© supersport.com


John Obi Mikel © Shengolpixs
Samson Siasia says he never discussed including Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, into Nigeria’s 2016 Olympic football squad with anyone.

The local media was awash with stories that Mikel could be a shock inclusion to the squad with the players reportedly informing an unnamed “source” about his intention to play at the Olympics for Nigeria.

Siasia has now moved to deny the rumours insisting that no one knows the identities of the players who will make the list.

“Coach Siasia has not mentioned the name of any player who will be included in the Olympic team so I want to advise the Nigerian media to be patient.

“When the list of players to be invited is released, it will be made available to the media.

“This issue of trying to be smart or trying to get exclusive (stories) is not going to help the team.

“They will only heat up the polity because if eventually, the Siasia does not invite Mikel, there will be talk of the coach having a grudge against the player.

“The coach has neither invited anyone, nor discussed who he plans to invite to the team,” Nigeria’s Under-23 team spokesman, Timi Ebikagboro told supersport.com.

Mikel was excluded from the 2008 Nigeria Olympic team by Siasia after the Chelsea man failed to take part in the qualifiers for the tournament.

http://ng.supersports.mobi/football/nigeria/news/151220/Samson_never_requested_for_mikel

lexyman:
When ? And what is the player name ,Or are you talking about what will happen in the coming future ?

Perfect questions.

Icon4s:
4-1 is pardonable bt 9-0 is something else.

Nigerian youth system has produced better players than Alaba.

Please, Tell me the players from that his set that is better than him and you can add the names of those better players.

Icon4s:
Spot on bro. Is forgiveness saying we have nt produced players from our youth system that are better than Alaba?

Our grassroots system has seen Nigeria play in 4 out of d last 5 U17 WC final winning 3. We are getting it right, simple. Before the last U17 WC people dat shared same sentiments with forgiveness were clamouring for d inclusion of some English groomed U17 Nigerians. Amuneke organised a friendly btw our local Eaglets and Anglo Eaglets jst to makr some selection decisions. The local eaglets won 9-0. Most of those Euro-Nigerian players are simply over-rated!

The fact that Celta da Vigo trashed Barcelona 4 - 1, does not mean Messi, Neymar and Suarez are over-rated players. Besides, they(Anglo) were assembled in a day for that match against a team(local Eaglets) that has been together for long.

Wait o, you mean the NFF abandoned the grassroots project and went that far to organise a friendly for Anglo-Born players in order to source players?

Someone has misunderstood NFF.

Let us look at players Tella snubbed for Alaba, Macauley Chrisantus, Lukman Haruna, Rabiu Ibrahim etcetera. Where are they now?

Who can you compare with Alaba?

Icon4s:
I know. Simple. Besides it is no secret.

OK. But it is secret to me.

TheGoodJoe:
Stop being ridiculous. How did I frame it?

Why did Coach Yemi Tella and Coach Manu Garba reject David Alaba? What did Alaba give as their reason?

Answer the question before falsely accusing someone.

Please, kindly show us a pieces of the article from the Nigeria Football association that said so.

Did Yemi Tella act based on a written article by the federation or he personally and tactically choose to shun the boy?

Icon4s:
I can tell u that the national team has a team of scouts and all those players are within their radar. In my earlier post i mentioned those that have been invited already. Some more will still be invited and some new ones will still continue to emerge. However, not all are national team materials whether U17, U20, U23 or Super Eagles.

The ones invited thus far (within d last 2yrs) have nt been outstanding so no big deal abt them.

Good to hear that.

*clearing throat * how do you know, are you one of them?

BascoVanVeli:
They should change that. The team should be for the best u-17 Nigerian players. This same mindset lost us Alaba lets not repeat it again. There should be a fine line.

Bros, abeg help me tell am.

There's nothing for them to change because such ideology doesn't exist in the first place. He must have framed it. Except, he is one of them.

TheGoodJoe:
Maybe you are arguing because you do not understand the ideology. I can forgive you Mr forgiveness for that.

Let is use Coach Emmanuel Amunike's U17 winning team for instance:

Amunike toured Nigeria, hosting games between local footballing academies in Nigeria. He selected his first set of players after this tour.

After we qualified for the World Cup, he held open camps in different areas of the country, giving local talents who did not have a chance to join academies to show case their talents.

After that, he had a team of Nigerian grassroot footballers. That is from the lowest level of our football. Complete amateurs.

He took them to the tournament and he won. Some would never have played football at that level in their life if not that the U17 is strictly for grassroot development.

If you show me where ideology is written then I will hold my peace.

You mean Amunike still sourced his players from the same Academy(clubs) you lately condemned by saying and I quote 'is a player already in club your idea of grassroots'. I am forgiveness and I have forgiven you for that.

Why did Amunike have to go that low to source for players?

TheGoodJoe:
Alaba himself said the Nigerian U17 handlers rejected him because we use the U17 to promote grassroot players. I am baffled that a human being can have a problem with Nigeria developing our grassroot players.

I mean, are you being serious at all? We are even complaining that we need more room to promote our grassroot players and you are here writing things I can not decipher what your problem is.

Are you saying we should have left our local talent to expose an already exposed player?

We beat German with promising German youngsters 4-1 in that competition.

Can you tell me what your problem is? Or is that you look down on Nigerian local talents?

Look at Ahmed Musa, he is one hundred percent Nigerian footballing system. He was a name here before he touched Europe.

I am asking you again, please give me the right answers

Why do we go to the grass roots to source for players?

Where did we source our grassroots players from?

Please answer this first then I will go to the next. Thanks