Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) star Anthony Omaka who plays as a central midfielder for Sunshine Stars of Akure has appealed to Super Eagles gaffer Gernot Rohr to give the country based professional footballers the chance to prove themselves in the senior national team.
Omaka who was a guest on Nigeria Sports Express, a sports program on Jordan FM in Lagos, believed that the Super Eagles manager doesn’t have confidence in the NPFL stars.
He however, urged the former Gabon National team coach to give the NPFL stars the chance to prove themselves like late Stephen Keshi did with Sunday Mba, Godfrey Oboabona and the likes.
“I heard that Gernot Rohr has been mandated to stay here and watch the NPFL matches in other to scout for talent in the league.
“I’m of the opinion that the coach doesn’t believe in the country home based players, because if he believes in us and the opportunity is there I don’t see what they play in Europe that we won’t do well if giving the chance.
“If the likes of Godfrey Oboabona, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Sunday Mba, can be given the opportunity to show their skills at the highest level, I don’t see why we can’t replicate such if given same opportunity by Rohr”, he stated.
The midfielder however opined that if giving opportunity he will give hundred percent and do more to help the country, “but with the way Rohr is going about it, he doesn’t see it coming except God Almighty touches his heart to change his mindset towards home grown players.
“If I am given the opportunity I will do justice to my inclusion and I’m sure we have talent in the country apex league and others that will fight for shirt if given equal chance, but where will the opportunity we are looking for come from?, but we are just hopeful that God will touch his (Rohr) heart for him to look towards our direction.”
He concluded by saying that the league players would be glad if the manager can work and focus on the terms given to him by the the country football governing body (NFF).
“We will be glad if he Gernot Rohr will stick with the new mandate given to him by the Nigerian Football Federation to stay here and watch the league matches, it will be very good for us and things of pride to see three or four NPFL players making the Super Eagles squad.
Franco-German Gernot Rohr has however extended his stay with Super Eagles after he penned down a two and half year contract until 2022.
