Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia accuse the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, over neglect of players in age-grade football in Nigeria; npflupdates.com reports.
The NFF is the football governing body in Nigeria, and is saddled with the responsibility of hiring coaches for the various national team in Nigeria.
Siasia in a recent interview explained how players in the U-20 (Flying Eagles) category use to experience neglect for the federation.
According to the former Super Eagles gaffer, he would spend his personal money on the players who are in his camp.
What Siasia said about the NFF
Siasia has managed the Dream Team (Nigeria men’s U-23) twice, Flying Eagles (men’s U-20).
“We were in hell. I tell you right from Nigeria, trust me. The easiest team to coach is the Super Eagles because they will give you everything that you need. But U20, even Under 16 is the worst, you don’t see food.
“So these are the areas I’m special the way it comes to taking care of the players. I spend my own money to make sure these boys are okay.
“I buy them toothpaste, brush or we travel out, give them $100 from my own pocket. Do you think they are there for Nigeria? No, they are playing for me,” Siasia said and was quoted by Daily Post Nigeria.
In another story, the NFF directs a mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test for potential Golden Eaglets.
Recall the Golden Eaglets (men’s U-17) are currently in camp as they prepare for the WAFU-B tournament that will take place in Ghana.
“NFF is very serious about selecting players within the age bracket, not only to ensure that many of the selected players come true to ranks but also to avoid previous situations whereby teams got severely depleted after players who had passed the screening exercise were dropped after failing the MRI test,” Achi told PUNCH Sports Extra on Sunday.
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“To this end, every player scouted is mandated to have an MRI scan at designated hospitals approved by the NFF. After that has been done and the player has passed Grades 1–4, he can be allowed to join up with the rest of the team. Even NFF is not accepting Grade 5 because the player will exceed the required age before the FIFA U17 World Cup,” he added.
