Adekunle Salami
A former International, Victor Ikpeba, on Monday said that the players in the Nigeria Football Professional League were too old to boost development of the game in Nigeria.
Ikpeba argued that development can only be achieved with young players just coming up in the game.
He said; “We should have players in league from secondary schools and tertiary institutions but for now, every player wants to head abroad and so many of those in the league are just too old.
“In our time, some of us played in the league as teenagers and that was why we were able to also excelled abroad because we were still within the age to learn and grow
“When people talk about having some of the NPFL players in the Super Eagles, I laugh. Most of these players are busy thinking about how to be paid salaries and they feed their families. Many of them are married with children.”
The former Africa Footballer of the year noted that was need of a complete re-orientation in the domestic league system
He stressed that it was important for the League Management Company and the Nigeria Football Federation to fashion out various ways of making the domestic league more attractive to the players and the average football loving Nigerian.
“We cannot hear of players transfer in the mode of N10m or even more while the welfare too is a big issue for many of the teams. The stadia should be made attractive with good turf.
“I also want the organisers to improve on officiating so that we are sure that every season a true winner comes up to represent the country on the continent,” Ikpeba added.
