Working with homebased players is, to paraphrase ‘Forrest Gump’, like getting a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get! You can find a gem just as easily as you can find a dud; each though with a common denominator- raw undeveloped talent.
But one thing remains here. The Nigerian domestic game, from the professional league to the youth club or grassroots league, is a jewel of inestimable value.
However, working with homebased players is fraught with challenges. By far the greatest being how to get players to sacrifice their individuality for the good of the team, appreciating the fact that the cutting edge player is the one who understands where and how to use his talent to advance the goals of the team.
In recent times however, the value of the homebased players has moved in inverse proportion with followership of the European leagues in Nigeria, especially the English Premier League. To the extent that for many a Nigerian football follower, a Nigerian player is good because he plays in the EPL or La Liga, Bundesliga, or in any of the mid-range European leagues, from Ukraine, Turkey or Denmark.
But the true worth of a player has always been and will always be primarily a factor of his abilities, his physical conditioning and technical qualities.
I spent a year (during my National Youth Service Corp deployment), following the defunct Leventis United in their matches in the then 2nd Division of the Nigerian league, an experience which opened my eyes to the sheer breath and variety of talent available in Nigeria. This experience also revealed to me the adverse effect of a lack of proper structure for the sustainable development of the domestic game on availability of players to national team selectors.
The result is that too many talented Nigerian players simply fall through the cracks, and worse still, never receive the expert guidance to enable them develop to their full potentials.
It is against this background that one must commend the efforts of Samson Siasia at rebuilding the Super Eagles from the foundation of the domestic game.
Football is a confidence sport. A lack of confidence impacts a Fernando Torres the same way it would affect an upstart at Nassarawa United. What Nigerian players need is proper guidance. It is my belief that any player with real ability can perform at any level, given the proper tools and the right guidance and motivation.
The failures of the Super Eagles in the last four years is to a large extent a product of a chronic inability to refresh itself with new emerging talent, leading to a lack of internal competition with the team almost entirely dependent on the ability of Nigerian players to find ever diminishing spots in European clubs.
However to make this exercise work, Siasia must show patience and follow through. While it is unrealistic to expect the homebased players to completely upstage the current Super Eagles players, the success of this exercise could expand both the talent base and the tactical options available to Siasia as he rebuilds the Super Eagles.
The Squad:
Gabriel Reuben, Joseph Thompson, Gambo Mohammed and Sherif Isah (Kano Pillars), Sunday Rotimi (Dolphin), Yinka Adedeji (Sunshine Stars), Harrison Egbune (Crown FC), Eugene Salami (Tornadoes), Kenneth Ehis (Gombe United), Bernard Okorowanta (Enyimba), Gbenga Arokoyo, Yusuf Jaiyeola (Kwara United). Bassey Akpan, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Gege Soriola, Bartholomew Ibenegbu, Julius Ubido, Osas Okoro (Heartland), Chigozie Agbim, Ekigho Ehiosun (Warri Wolves), Valentine Nwabili (Enyimba), Ukeyima Akombo, Cletus Itodo (Sunshine Stars), Wasiu Showemimo (Pillars), Gbolahan Salami (3SC), Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers) and Stanley Okoronkwo (Sharks).
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