A youth team coach in the national team setup of Nigeria has revealed why coaches handling teams at that level for Nigeria are usually open to collecting money from football agents and sometimes parents of players.
Following up on our report about a dispute between a national team coach of Nigeria and a football agent , who is asking for a refund after his player failed to make the squad of one of the national teams, the coach opened up to the problems at that level.
” I saw your report on the agent asking the coach for his money after his player was dropped. My brother, it is what is happening at that level but you can’t blame us for it only”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
” A lot of us working and who have worked with the youth teams are not on salary. Instead it’s tournament bonus that you are not sure will come as and at when due. You are a family man and you understand what it means to say no when your family is hungry back home.
” If the NFF want to solve this issue then they have to find a way to pay the coaches well. Even the head coaches who have valid contracts haven’t been paid for over 18 months. How do you tell such a man not to collect money from agents or parents of players?.
On if it affects their judgement on inclusion of players, the coach said it is not that way all the time saying some very good players have agent who support the coaches, he said most times they collect money from players already in the team.
” It is rare for a coach to collect money from players who are not in his plans. Very rare because the very good players have agent who supports them and they also support the coaches”, he concluded.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
