Eaglets and their Super Eagles positions

Pius Ayinor

Since the Golden Eaglets won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, I have followed arguments on how best to handle this group of players. While a majority of those who have spoken want a fast integration into the senior teams, some others think it should be a gradual process as the players are still “very young.”

It is those who desire a slower integration that I am challenging today. What they are saying indirectly is that if Neymar were to be a Nigerian he would still have been with at most the U-20 team if not lower. And I know that that there are still many other players who made it to their national teams in quick sprint like the Wilsheres, Rooneys and Samel Eto’o.

If I indeed had my way they could have all tried out with the Super Eagles squad preparing for the African Nations Championship. The only reason that could have made it quite untidy is the fact that Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi had over the time worked out a national team with a huge number of home-based players and so it would have created extra work within the limited time.

I could not watch all the matches the Eaglets played in Dubai but I followed enough to understand that they can compete with any form of adult on the pitch unless anyone is looking at them as Under-15s if you understand what I mean. Let those who can prove themselves move up quickly for time is not really on anybody’s side.

Off the football field my greatest worry for these young players remains their search for professional clubs. As humans many of us are so eager to reap where we didn’t sow. The same way many of those advancing quickly forget where they started from. Since these guys returned from the Middle East I have heard so much about transfers and managers that I wonder where they were before the players got to the United Arab Emirates. Many of the agents are springing up over the same player and claiming expertise and rights on players that fed and trained under somebody else in the last five years.

 The astonishing thing is that some of these Eaglets are giving ears to these new sudden managers they believe can take them to the best clubs in Europe. I hope somebody tells them that many of the agents are just around for the quick cash. They are ready to make them sign anything and disappear afterwards. There are a lot of African players washing cars and plates in Europe even when they are still less than 25years just because an agent told them they could get them a place with Real Madrid or some other dream teams. Now how would a player who was not on the starting X1 of his team in Nigeria believe he can cross and start with Bayern Munich if not for foolishness?

I understand the sports ministry has arranged a seminar for these young boys to educate them on matters around contracts and use of agents.

 I wish their parents can join them too so that everyone understands that it is not every player that can join Barcelona now. It makes some simple sense to get a place with West Ham first because if you are really good the bigger teams will see you. It is that thirst for the big contracts that have put budding African players in the wrong hands and ending up in the wrong teams.

Let’s not be deceived that a hat-trick in an U-17 match can be equated to a hat-trick in the final match of Brazil 2014. I was led to pour out my mind on this matter and that I have done.

Merry Christmas and enjoy a blessed 2014.