Streets of Lagos - Grassroots Football

[The Eagle]

So.....

.... it is odd that the players, coaches and even the video narrator are talking in terms of these youth going directly from these "academies" to European clubs. True, Nigerian clubs are better known for owing players than for paying good salaries, but why is no one talking about a placement with a national Division Three club, or a team in the NFF-organized amateur leagues? It is not even certain they'd get a place at an organized Nigerian club as it is.

That said, it is possible the players could have appeared stronger if they had been playing on smooth, grassy pitches, as opposed to the sandy "beach soccer" fields they practice and play on. I saw players making the correct pass, the correct play, except the sand or the puddles held up the ball. Conversely, as someone who grew up playing on waterlogged pitches in rainy Port Harcourt, pitches that were potholed when dry, you learn to "lift" the ball when passing, as opposed to passing or playing it on the ground.

PS: It is very "African" that that first coach described himself as hailing from Benin Republic .... then said he was born in Nigeria, grew up in Nigeria, schooled in Nigeria and is still in Nigeria working now. I mean, is he not .... Nigerian?

If you have half an hour, the video is below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmM5FkZB49M[/video]

[Gotti]

So.....

.... it is odd that the players, coaches and even the video narrator are talking in terms of these youth going directly from these "academies" to European clubs. True, Nigerian clubs are better known for owing players than for paying good salaries, but why is no one talking about a placement with a national Division Three club, or a team in the NFF-organized amateur leagues? It is not even certain they'd get a place at an organized Nigerian club as it is.

That said, it is possible the players could have appeared stronger if they had been playing on smooth, grassy pitches, as opposed to the sandy "beach soccer" fields they practice and play on. I saw players making the correct pass, the correct play, except the sand or the puddles held up the ball. Conversely, as someone who grew up playing on waterlogged pitches in rainy Port Harcourt, pitches that were potholed when dry, you learn to "lift" the ball when passing, as opposed to passing or playing it on the ground.

PS: It is very "African" that that first coach described himself as hailing from Benin Republic .... then said he was born in Nigeria, grew up in Nigeria, schooled in Nigeria and is still in Nigeria working now. I mean, is he not .... Nigerian?

If you have half an hour, the video is below:

Very “African”? You need to get more...

You think in Japan or China or Korea or India about every other place in Asia, Eastern and Central Europe, the Middle East, etc., you become a citizen simply by being born (or raised) there? In fact, it was not until relatively recently that nations like Germany changed bloodlines as the principal determinant of citizenship. Citizenship is a political construct, but I presume that this dude would nonetheless be substantially and substantively more “Nigerian” (cultural and otherwise) than many who carry the Green Passport (including many CEs and SE players).

[mcal]

...but who will maintain the grass? Even our national playing grass fields are not up to par.
Plant grass there it will turn into mangrove forest of elephant grass over night with dangerous reptiles.
This is where the dream start...e no easy o!

[Kako]

Very interesting.

[txj]

I like grassroots football, and I commend the efforts of those involved in it.

But you cannot SUSTAINABLY develop a country's football in the long term thru this.

[The YeyeMan]

Thanks for sharing.

[mcal]

I like grassroots football, and I commend the efforts of those involved in it.

But you cannot SUSTAINABLY develop a country's football in the long term thru this.

...the sad part is these boys are being (falsely) groomed to go from street football to UK and Europe big time football, without going thru the local football scene of playing for a national division one league side.

[Prince]

I like grassroots football, and I commend the efforts of those involved in it.

But you cannot SUSTAINABLY develop a country's football in the long term thru this.

...the sad part is these boys are being (falsely) groomed to go from street football to UK and Europe big time football, without going thru the local football scene of playing for a national division one league side.

We need more investments, its a sad state of affairs.

[General Trousers]

Eagle, some Nigerians represented Benin. In fact quite a few.