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Former Super Eagles and FC Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amuneke outlined solutions that will see more players from the NPFL be considered as good enough for the Super Eagles.
Ex-Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amuneke is not happy with the state of youth development in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.
Amuneke spoke extensively about how players in the Football League can find their way into the Super Eagles during an exclusive interview with Pulse Sports Nigeria recently.
Amuneke dissects NPFL-Super Eagles debate
There has been an ongoing debate about the quality of the Nigerian league and if its players are good enough for the Super Eagles.
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After the recently concluded NPFL Super 6, only four NPFL players were named in the Super Eagles squad released by manager Jose Peseiro for the last international break against Sierra Leone.
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Rivers United duo of Victor Sochima and Chiebube Duru, Ojo Olorunleke of Enyimba, and Divine Nwachukwu of Bendel Insurance. None of the players play a single minute in the all-important AFCON 2023 qualifier which the Eagles went on to win 3-2 to secure a place in the tournament next year.
Former Super Eagles star, Amuneke, was asked if he shares the sentiment that players in the NPFL are not good enough for the Eagles and the former Julius Berger winger didn’t hold back on his thought.
Despite being a product of the league, the 52-year-old says NPFL clubs have not provided a platform that will allow more players from the league make that progression due to impatience.
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“We have not been able to encourage that scenario,” Amuneke told Pulse Sports.
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“I can say i am a product of the league. After my secondary school, about getting into university, i had the opportunity when Julius Berger approached me and i had to make a tough decision, which way do i go? To continue my study or go into football?’ knowing the situation of combining both is very difficult in the terrain we come from which over here is a plus combining both - the possibility is there.”
“But the reality is that we don’t have patience knowing that a player that is young today, in the next five years will be grown. So, we find it difficult in our culture to encourage young players.”
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“We have 20 teams in terms of our league in Nigeria and you hardly find young players being registered.”
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“These are things we need to go back and look at how we can encourage young players.”
Speaking further on how NPFL players can find their way into the national team, he noted that young players must be given chance and time to make mistakes, learn and grow to ensure that they proper progress in the Football League.
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“I think these are the issues we are shying away from,” he added.
“We find it difficult to say ‘okay, let me take this set of U20 boys from the World Cup, incorporate those that are not traveling (out). If it’s possible, split them into the league, into the clubs, (and) from there we continue to monitor and observe them.”
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“But we can’t go with the mentality of ‘these players came from the world cup, we expect them to be the best’. No, things are not done that way.”
“The key is being patient and continue with long term athletic development plans to aid the transition to first team. Improving repeated sprint ability, ensuring five pillars of health such as sleep, mindset, nutrition, exercise and education. So, when you have all these things in plan, it can help these players develop and in future, the same players will have the opportunity or privilege to be invited to the Super Eagles.”
Watch The Full Interview Here
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