The influx of Nigeria players and coaches moving to the other part of the country in Africa for a greener pastures has been identified as one of the major issues need to be addressed before it eventually killed Nigeria football if it continues.
The former Kwara United gaffer, Coach Samson David Unuanel stated this during an interview with journalists at the just concluded 2024 Amapro Football Championship in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
Coach Unuanel, who has just joined as the head coach of Ayema D’adjarra of Benin Republic said the influx of the players will mostly affect Nigeria, noting that it is a bad omen for Nigeria football ecosystem.
“This thing will kill Nigeria football, the move of players and coaches to another league in Africa” He said.
He avowed that, more than 30 players shown an interest in moving with him to Benin Republic immediately he penned contract with his new club Ayema D’adjarra.
“More than 30 players as I’m talking with you both from NPFL and NNL want to move with me to Benin Republic but I have to use my brain to cut it down”
He noted that, a lot of players playing in Benin Republic have moved to other part of the continent due to the enabling environment provided for them by the league body.
He further cited that, a free passport is always available for any players who played excellently well which has made the Beninian league much more organized.
Unuanel highlighted that, football is run professionally in Benin Republic compared to Nigeria, noting that clubs have their own stadium and which has helped their leagues more developed and lucrative.
“There football is being run professionally, Ayema has is personal private football pitch, synthetic, nobody trains there, everything is in place which will make a player or coach performed well ” Unuanel affirmed.
Unuanel also opined that, most NPFL clubs don’t believe in their players, most especially clubs in South West part of the country.
“South West we don’t believe in our players, we are satisfied going out of the state and bring players in”
Former Calabar Rovers coach, advised the technical department of the NFF to come up with good program and should be circulated around the NPFL teams.
” I want to say, we should sit down and discuss way forward, technical department should come up with good programming and this program should be circulated round the premiership teams”
He further advised, that NPFL clubs should also have a workable U-15 league which should be tagged as next generation.
“A premiership teams should have workable U-15 which I tagged next generation”
Coach Samson David Unuanel, however expressed his delight over his move to Benin Republic side Ayema D’adjarra, saying it has been his dreams to coach a club out of the shore of the country.
Written By: Michael Odetunde Odesports
