LAGOS – Bright Omokaro, a former Super Eagles player, on Wednesday charged Nigerian footballers to aspire to be the world’s best.
Omokaro told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a Nigerian player, like his counterparts in other [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]countries, ”has what it takes to be the world best”.
He said that Nigerian players, in both international and domestic leagues, could aspire be the winner of [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]an award such as the Ballon D’or.
NAN reports that Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese forward and Real Madrid winger, won FIFA’s World
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″][pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]Best Footballer award (Ballon D’Or) for the third time on Jan. 12.
Ronaldo emerged as Europe’s top scorer with 38 league goals and also scored 13 champions league goals in 2013/2014 season, beating Argentine Lionel Messi to the award.
Omokaro said that the only way Nigerian and African footballers could achieve the feat was for them to have attitudinal changes.
“ Once this occurred, there would be progression.
“The African, or should I say Nigerian mentality towards professional football, is very poor.
“Once they perform very well for a particular period of time and are praised, they become complacent and do not bother to keep improving.
“They are happy to keep revolving in one level, while other players are searching for a way to advance and become all-time greats,’’ he said.
Omokaro also noted that another key area toward attaining such important level in a footballers’ career is through hard work and persistence.
“Ronaldo could have easily backed down when Messi won it back-to-back for four years.
“If he had adopted the Nigerian mentality and remained static– not improving himself, he would have lost out.
“But he was determined to get the award again and he did not stop at that; he still beat Messi again and his success story should be a motivation for every footballer,’’ he said.
The former defender emphasised the importance of determination for any sportsman and woman to get to the peak of his or her career.