Dotun Coker and other Football stakeholders have identified indiscipline, lack of education, skills, fitness, and sporting infrastructures are responsible for grassroots footballers not performing to the optimum level in their footballing career.
This was disclosed by Chairman Technical Committee of Lagos State Football Association, Dotun Coker while delivering his paper titled ‘Challenges faced By Grassroots Footballers in Making It to the Top Flight and the Solution’ at the Bucknor Football Club Annual End of Year Party and Award Night held recently at Ikotun- Igando Local Council Development Area, Lagos.
Coker said many grassroots players who have brighter futures lack the discipline to move forward in their chosen career noted that only discipline and skillful grassroots players can take their football to the next level.
Coker also identified that inadequate and poor football pitches are another problem facing grassroots players saying that without good sporting facilities, no grassroots player can achieve their full potentials.
He called on local council chairmen in Lagos to create sporting facilities where footballers can engage in sporting activities. He reminded that the Lagos state government led by Babajide Sanwo-Olu would provide ten sporting facilities before May 2022.
Coker said lack of education is another problem facing grassroots players and urged the club owners to try as much as possible to encourage their players and coaches to acquire formal education that can make them to compete with their peers within and outside the country.
In his own comment, Comrade Olajide Olayinka, FIFA badge referee in his topic titled “Effects of Indiscipline among grassroots footballers in Alimosho” lamented how grassroots players lack discipline both on and off the pitch. He said grassroots players can make it in their careers if they are disciplined and remained focused.
He expressed disappointment that most of the grassroots footballers’ today lack discipline which denies some of them to play in bigger clubs. He however said players who lack discipline cannot go far in their chosen career and urged the grassroots footballers and coaches to change their wayward life and take discipline as a watchword.
While CSP Adagba Johnson, one of the guest speakers admonished the grassroots players to shun crime and focus on their footballing career. He said footballers should not involve in crime that can tarnish their image and advised the club owners to monitor their players and coaches on and off the pitch.
In his own remark Ikotun- Igando council boss, Lasisi Akinsanya said his council would give necessary support to Bucknor FC and urged them to find a place where the council can buy and build sporting infrastructures.
