By Amaechi Agbo
The director, Dreamland Football Academy, Mr. Ndudi Edede has urged the newly appointed national teams’ coaches to make grassroots football the base for the recruitment of their players.
Mr Ndudi in a press statement on Sunday in Abuja commended the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF for given the local coaches the opportunity to prove themselves and make Nigerians proud.
The General Secretary, Nigeria Teqball Federation, NIGTEQ also congratulated the new coaches on their new national assignments.
On Friday, the NFF released names of 31 coaches to oversee various national teams from U-20 to U-13.
In the appointments made, former handler, Ladan Bosso returned as U-20 Flying Eagles coach while Fatai Amoo will take charge of U-17 Golden Eaglets.
On the female said, Christopher Danjuma oversees the Falconets whereas U-17 Flamingos are handled by Bankole Olowookere.
The U-15 Future Eagles is handled by former assistant coach of the side, Haruna Ilerika Usman while U-13 is headed by Abdullahi Tyabo Umar.
Commending the NFF for the appointments Mr. Edede noted that the appointments came with much responsibility and expectations and charged the coaches not to disappoint Nigerians.
Mr Ndudi Edede who is the Project Director of the most successful and prestigious youth football scouting programme in Nigeria, the Dreamland-Embassy of Hungary Cup Competition advised the coaches to make grassroots talents their base in recruiting players.
He noted that dependence on foreign players at U-20 and U-17 levels is inimical to the growth of Nigeria football and called on the NFF to give them free hands to select their choice players.
“I want to commend the Nigeria Football Federation on the appointments of coaches to head the various national teams.
“Even though this was long overdue, it is always better late than never. And on this basis, I congratulate the appointed coaches on their new national assignments.
“I would also appeal to the coaches that they should use the grassroots as their backbone of reservoir for player selections. The dependence on foreign players at U-20 and U-15 is inimical to the development of football in the country. There are viable academies in the country that are churning out talented players and are ready to make the country proud any time.
“This is also to appeal to the NFF to support the coaches with the needed logistics and also give them free hand to select their choice players. Let them take responsibility for their players and take the glory or blame when the result is a success or a failure. They need maximum support of all Nigerians to succeed and I believe the sky is the limit for them to explore,” he said.
