By Femi Atolagbe
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Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Bamidele Ologunloluwa,has said presence of national team coaches at various league venues will boost the image of the league and improve chances of home based players in the national teams.
Ologunloluwa stated this while speaking with newsmen after he had met with Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro, in Akure.
Peseiro was in Akure to watch match day Seven of the NPFL involving Sunshine Stars and Niger Tornadoes, in which the formal emerged 2-0 victors.
Ologunloluwa said the presence of national team coaches at match venues will give them(national coaches) the insight and pattern of what the league looks like and will also give room for sharing of experience to coaches, especially those at lower leagues, of the country.
The commissioner, who appreciated the visit of the Super Eagles Coach, urge him to look inwards for good players as the country was blessed with abundant talents.
“I am happy to meet Mr Peseiro here in Akure, he is our guest and from what I heard, this is the second time he will be watching our team play, though! First time in Akure.
“If we have more of these visits, it will be a morale booster and raise hope that more of our indigenous players will be called to the national teams.
“It’s not that we don’t normally have home based players, but the coach coming down himself to watch them play shows commitment and like he said that he wanted to win AFCON, he will need best of legs from the country mixed with those outside the country to achieve it.
“I will also urge our coaches at the age grade levels to emulate the national team coach and look for materials in the country,” he said.
The commissioner later appreciated the Governor of Ondo State,Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN,CON, for the support and willingness to ensure that youths in the states are employed and off the street through sports.
On his part, Ondo State FA Chairman, Otunba Dele Ajayi said the current board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are doing everything right to bring back the lost glory of football.
Ajayi said part of it was ensuring that national team coaches visit match venues and watch the league.
The board member said soon, the country will reap the gains of the plans being put in place by the board.
