Make Golden Eaglets Face of NPFL Youth League – Baldwin Bazuaye
Former Nigeria International Baldwin Bazuaye has joined the horde to express his thoughts over the NPFL Youth League instituted by organizers of the Nigerian elite league.
Bazuaye gave thumbs up to NPFL Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye and his team for encouraging talented teenagers and giving them a sense of belonging hitherto missing at that level.
The former Katsina United coach however wants more glamour given to the programme by involving members of the Golden Eaglets that won the first Under-16 World Championship in 1985.
“This is a good concept and part of the way forward yet NPFL needs to do more.”
“The body must make the initiative more glamorous by making the maiden Under-16 World Cup winners, the face of the programme. Inviting those of us that did the nation proud in China, 39 years ago will serve as icing on the cake for this show.”
He also urged that outstanding youth players be gradually integrated into their senior teams as it is done in Europe.
“Once a good player has been spotted at this level, take the player to the senior team. When a coach discovers the talent inherent in such player, he would encourage him just as Jurgen Klopp did with the youngsters that won the Carabao Cup in February.”
The former Ethnikos Piraeus player also advised that the best players from the five clubs partaking in the competition should form the nucleus of Nigeria’s Under-17 team.
Credit: Akintunde Akinsemola
