By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos
Organisers of the on-going Lagos 21 scouting programme are confident that they would discover new Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Wilfred Ndidi and Odion Jude Ighalo to confirm that Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr is making a mistake by ignoring players in the Nigerian professional football League.
At least five top scouts representing various clubs in Europe have arrived Lagos to begin a massive football scouting programme that they said would would rubbish Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr’s disdain for local talents.
The Scouts from France, Turkey, Germany and other parts of Europe are in Nigeria on invitation
of some renown sports promoters and football agents and commenced with the Lagos leg Sunday
at the National Institute For Sports (NIS) pitch inside the National Stadium.
As Shooting Stars Sports Club, of Ibadan defeated Sunshine Stars F.C of Akure 1-0 in the opening match Sunday, the Chief Organizer of the scouting programme said that they would move to other parts of the country,
Okpalajiaku Sunday Obiora stated that the top scouts joined by various Nigerian clubs’ Directors
are certain of getting quality players to various clubs abroad very soon. He noted that such players would not need to undergo any further trial on arrival abroad.
Obiora who confirmed that the scouting train would head to Port Harcourt on December 15, stated that the scouts have penciled down names of talented players from 3SC, Sunshine Stars, MFM, De Cardinal F.C, F.C H2C Chulson, Gidado and other teams featuring for pro deals abroad.
He said it is their own way of providing the right platform for promising Nigerian players to be exposed.
On his part, a top Football Agent and CEO of Ude Sports International, Uche Dominic Egbuku
applauded the programme, adding that it would confirm how Super Eagles coaches have been
unfair to players plying their trade at home.
The Ude Sports boss who discovered Leister City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi and Uche Agbo and has helped several Nigerian stars to get clubs abroad, further faulted Gernot Rohr’s refusal to invite the most valuable player in the Swedish League, Akeem, Amao.
According to Egbuku, Amao is one of Nigeria’s most promising players abroad and needs prompt invitation by Rohr.
“Gernof Rohr and indeed Nigerian Coaches must avoid sentiments and pick the best players at
every point in time.
“Amao is young and talented hence, he is the best player in Sweden. It is a shame that he and other good players are being ignored for no reason. The idea of hanging on to tired and expired players is over hence the NFF is disappointed with Rohr now.
“This scouting programme by credible officials and technocrats would expose the bias and
incompetence that has bedeviled our football”, he concluded.
