Dr. Felix Owolabi (MON). was in the Green Eagles CAF championship side in 1980
Laments over the state of Nigerian football
By Rasheed Adewuyi
Former Super Eagles winger Felix Owolabi(MON) is angry with the current state of Nigerian football and has expressed his displeasure over the exit of the country’s representatives at the CAF champions league last week.
Rivers FC was trashed 6-0 by Wydad Casablanca, while Plateau United lost on away goal rule after a 2-2 aggregate result against Esperance of Tunisia.
In a telephone chat with Sports Joust, Owolabi disclosed that he was not happy with how Nigeria’s flag bearers were eliminated from the money-spinning league, adding that their performances showed that the standard of the pro league had deteriorated completely.
” The destiny of any country’s football depends on the local league. If you don’t take good care of your local competitors, the clubs and the national teams will not excel at the international level, “he said.
The former Shooting Stars of Ibadan player explained that the collapse of school Sports is why football, baseball, Athletics, and other games are dying in Nigeria.
“Everything has broken down. There’s no avenue to tap the talents we have in our sports anymore because we rely too much on foreign-based players groomed by other countries. The media also contributed to the dwindling standard of sports n our country.
The 1980 African cup of nations winner said he would be willing to help revive the pro league free of charge if the newly NFF-constituted board gave him the nod to assist them.
Rivers FC and Plateau United have dropped to the Confederation Cup after crashing out of the CAF champions league.
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