Practical Ways to Promote Grassroot Football and Development in Nigeria

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 Practical Ways to Promote Grassroot Football and Development in Nigeria




Practical Ways to Promote Grassroot Football and Development in Nigeria

By Daniel Kakwi


Just like in any other business, good management of football is best when it’s being well managed from the bottom. 


First, the government and private sector  MUST be interested, to get the best out of our league, there has to be some serious investment. Not only in players but coaches. Incentives and benefits. Facilities, playgrounds, well-organized tournaments. 


Most coaches today depend on a long hope of the 15 years old in their camp to sign in Europe. Some coaches are waiting for a 12-year-old boy to sign. And genuinely, that is their only hope. 


The same applies to academy owners. They have a team of 22-30 players knowing well fully that only 7-10 are good enough and only 3-5 from that number is determined to play. Don’t forget, only one or two of that number will be lucky to sign, and again, if you are lucky, only one from that number will be successful. So, only one of 30 players may make it. 


The reason for this is the lack of investments. 90% of our academy players only vent into football because of poverty, not because they want to play football. That is why when they eventually get a contract, they relax. 


Thereby someone close to the government (within the grassroots) must be singing this to their ears to invest in grassroots football. We have the land, we have the talents. Just provide the facilities and see what happens in 3 years. 


In Europe, the government/private sector listens to university lecturers on what to teach the students. They listen to experts on what the next line of studies should be. They find it with the advice of the people involve and decide what the 18-22 years should be learning at the university. They partner with primary school teachers to know what challenges are faced by children and their families and look at ways to support them. In the end, they get better in all areas. 


We have to get coaches, ex-footballers and stakeholders involve in grassroots football affairs to see how it can be developed. 


Functionally, the NPFL players- who would you prefer to watch? The academy matches or NPFL  matches? 


I think it’s the NPFL matches because whilst these players are aged, 80% of them are talented at the academy level, you can hardly see 15% talents. NPFL is like a filtered academy where all the untalented has been removed. 


Therefore, we must find a way to make people that want to play football play, not people that are playing it pending the time they get their admission into the university which is common in the academy. 


If we have proper football tournaments in both our primary and secondary schools, you will discover talents and even kids that are good but not interested can become interested. The list goes on. 


What is your thought too??

Comments

  1. Moses MatswamgbeAugust 17, 2021 at 9:29 PM

    This is quite an enjoyable read. There is no better time to shift focus towards grassroots football development than you. It's also very true that all hands must be on deck to achieve this.
    Huge investments in the training of major actors as well as the cooperation and understanding of major stakeholders should be a priority.

    ReplyDelete

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