…Demands Recognition For Grassroots Coaches
A grassroots coach in Lagos, Ayo Bamidele, popularly called Agama, has said one of the problems affecting the development of football in the country was the inability of national team coaches to give opportunity to everyone.
According to him, most national team coaches especially the junior national teams like the U-17 and the U-20 always look for readymade players and always give preferences to players from known people rather than performance.
Speaking during the ninth edition of Agama and Friends grassroots football tournament, Agama said despite producing top players for the national team and Benin Republic national team, he is yet to get the recognition he deserved.
Speaking on the annual Agama and Friends game, the coach said his players decided to honour hime with the event and it has been going on since eight years ago.
“I sent two of my players to the national U-17 team and both were dropped, not because they are not good, but because they didn’t have a godfather in the team,” he said.
“I have produced top players like Rasaq Omotoyosi, who represented Benin Republic, Dele Adeleye, Tosin Omoyele, among others and more are still coming up.
“I am not saying they should give my players preferential treatment, but atleast give them equal opportunity rather than taking players who you already have details about.
“The reasons why we have been having problems with the junior national teams are issue of eye service by the coaches who always want to please some people at the helms of affairs.
“Personally, I hope to take my game abroad and maybe I will be able to get the right recognitions I deserve because I have paid my dues as a grassroots coach.”
