Former Super Eagles captain and legendary Nigerian footballer, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, has dropped a bombshell revelation of Feeder teams of clubs in Nigeria that is sending shockwaves through the nation’s football scene.
Okocha exposed the troubling truth that feeder teams and academies of clubs in Nigeria are increasingly populated by older players, contrary to their intended purpose of nurturing young talent.
Okocha reveals this in a candid and exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
During the interview, Okocha highlighted the stark contrast between the age of players in these feeder teams and their counterparts in the main squads, Footballrover reports
He minced no words, stating,
“If you go to some of the clubs in Nigeria, their so-called feeder teams or academies are filled with old men, even older than those in the main team. To call a spade a spade, those footballers are not supposed to be in the feeder teams, which are supposed to be for younger players.”
This revelation raises serious concerns about the structure of the Nigerian football league and its potential impact on player development.
Okocha emphasized that such a flawed system is detrimental to the growth of the sport in the country and that immediate corrective measures are imperative.
He stressed,
“The structure of the league is deficient and would not attract any meaningful development if the errors are not attended to. It is not about scouting all over European leagues and others looking for players that are scoring goals, then, they get a call-up. National team is not magic, it is about team building.”
Drawing from his extensive experience, having earned over 73 caps for the Nigeria national team from 1993 to 2006, Okocha advised league managers and stakeholders to prioritize building a strong foundation for football in Nigeria.
He urged them to put in place the necessary structures that would make the Nigerian league more attractive and competitive.
By doing so, he believes that individuals like him can be motivated to get involved and contribute to the development of Nigerian football.
In Okocha’s own words,
“We must find a way to develop the league because it is no rocket science; it is a matter of mindset and our desire to do the right thing. If I am not comfortable going to watch matches, do you want me to sweep that under the carpet and pretend? I am not okay with the situation and can’t deal with it. This is another opportunity to clear what I said in Nairobi, Kenya because, at this stage of my life, it will be unfair for me to lie to our people or be covering up. It is true I said I will prefer to watch a premier league match instead of NPFL on television because the league is not where it is supposed to be.”
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