Lagos – The Coach of the Golden Eaglets, Emmanuel Amuneke, has urged the players to be cautious as they seek to begin their professional football career with foreign clubs.
Amuneke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday that the advice became necessary because many talented players had fallen prey to the antics of dubious players’ agent.
The coach stated that there is nothing wrong in players seeking greener pastures in foreign leagues, since the aim is to enhance their professional profile.
“People are talking about our young players; they want to connect them (with clubs); it is good for us; it is good for our football, but at the same time, we must be prudent; this is just the reality.
“Most of these players are from poor families; you have a lot of people going back to cook stories to their parents, give them money and the parents will sign in and at the end of the day they don’t know what they are getting involved in.
“At the end of the day, it becomes a problem to the player; at the end of the day it becomes a big problem even for the nation. We have seen it with the last set of the Eaglets.
“I pray that their parents should not be carried away and I pray that they themselves should remember their journey.’’
On the readiness of the players to play in the senior national teams, the former Barcelona FC of Spain winger, said that the boys should be allowed to grow through the ranks gradually.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“There is procedure and process in everything; even for you to play a match, you have to train to be fit; you can’t just wake up and start playing a match; there is a process
“They have to go to the category they belong to; they have to finish with the U-17 level.
“Let them face the challenge of U-20; gradually they will mature; they will learn more and they will become more perfect footballers.
“My own advice for them: I’m the one that trained them; I know them and I can categorically tell you that it will be better for them to go step by step and hopefully they will get there.’’ (NAN)