Head coach of Nigeria U-17 team Manu Garba has criticised the organisers of the Golden Boy Award over their choice of Bayern Munich teen star Renato Sanchez as winner ahead of Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City.
The annual award for Europe’s most impressive footballer under the age of 21 is run by the Italian newspaper Tuttosport, who will present the trophy to Sanches at a ceremony in Monte Carlo on Monday night. The 19-year-old, who joined Bayern in the summer from Benfica for an initial €30m and helped Portugal win Euro 2016
However Manu Garba is of the opinion that since the award is a personal award, it should be based on individual accolade and not team award, hence he feels his former U-17 protegee Iheanacho should have won it.
“It’s all political, considering what Iheanacho did last season, he should have won the award. It’s like it’s now reserved for players with big price tag. Iheanacho deserves it” He told Owngoalnigeria.com.
” As a matter of fact, the world know his quality so, it’s not an issue that should bother him. He will win many awards solely on merit. He is still very young”.
