Coach wants 5-A-Side football league

Wasiu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the National Institute for Sports (NISports) Gymnasium venue of the second Gulder Five-A-Side Football Championship in Lagos. He said the league would be a way to engage the talents the country had since the Nigeria Premier, National and Amatuer League […]

Wasiu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the National Institute for Sports (NISports) Gymnasium venue of the second Gulder Five-A-Side Football Championship in Lagos.

He said the league would be a way to engage the talents the country had since the Nigeria Premier, National and Amatuer League Divisions could not accommodate every player.

“Nigeria is blessed with so many talented players who are wasting because they cannot get the attention of the national league clubs in the country.

“But this will not be so if there is an avenue like a five-a-side league since it would provide the players employment and the national football clubs a pool to scout for talents.

“In Nigeria if we want to participate in a five-a-side or beach soccer event we pick players from the premier league which should not be so.

“A five-a-side league can also provide players for such international assignments,” he said.

The coach said that modalities for the competition should be worked out by an independent body to be set up by the government.

On the Gulder tournament, Wasiu thanked the organizers and sponsors and appealed to other corporate bodies to emulate Nigerian Breweries Plc in giving back to society where they operated.

“The competition is a good one but should not be made an annual event rather, it can be organised twice in a year so as to keep the boys occupied all year round.

“Organising the tournament twice annually would check players idling about after a competition because there is nothing to do,” he said.