Tajudeen Disu, former international and the Technical Director of Lagos State Football Association expressed concern over the mismatched age categories prevalent in grassroots football, emphasizing the need for reforms to ensure proper player development.
“We are winning every time. When you see grassroots football, you want them to win the cup at that time,” Disu remarked, highlighting the common practice of pitting older age groups against younger ones. “You go and put U20 to go and play U15. You go and put U15 to go and play U13. It is not good for the development of the game.”
Disu candidly pointed out that despite individuals responsible for overseeing football development being aware of these issues, the reluctance to address them persists due to factors like money and politics.
How You Can Get a Chance To Become a Millionaire
“I will tell you this, a whole lot of people who are saddled with the responsibility to do the right thing go there and see how it happens, but they refuse to do it because of money. The love of money and politics are the bane of Nigerian football,” Disu lamented.
The veteran football figure’s remarks shed light on the challenges facing grassroots football in Nigeria, emphasizing the critical need for reforms that prioritize the genuine development of young talents over short-term victories.
