Your opinion on foreign born Naijas in our Youth teams

[1naija]

CE needs to update its rules to address this new trends of anti-diaspora bigotry and xenophobia. I see no difference between it and Donald Trump’s immigration controls.

There are some vile people who just hate diaspora kids. No matter how good they are, these people simply do not want them.

If anyone needs to be reigned in, it's someone who constantly belittle our players that worked hard and sacrificed everything to qualify us for Russia!

[aruako1]

CE needs to update its rules to address this new trends of anti-diaspora bigotry and xenophobia. I see no difference between it and Donald Trump’s immigration controls.

There are some vile people who just hate diaspora kids. No matter how good they are, these people simply do not want them.

I'm not sure that I can see the so called bigotry in the OP. He asked a good question which has nothing to do with bigotry (before you accuse me my son was born in the UK). The argument by some is that including players born (and living) outside Nigeria might be disruptive given our penchant for thinking that everything foreign is better. However, if we have organized and structured programmes that are talent based and not subjective it might work.

[danfo driver]

CE needs to update its rules to address this new trends of anti-diaspora bigotry and xenophobia. I see no difference between it and Donald Trump’s immigration controls.

There are some vile people who just hate diaspora kids. No matter how good they are, these people simply do not want them.

My concern here is that when I raised this issue after NFAChairman showed his bigotry, YOU (YES YOU--AYO) told me to leave it alone and you tried to sweep it under the rug, because NFAChair is your friend. Why are you, all of a sudden, now finding offense?

[Chief Ogbunigwe]

Yes o. In fact, we should go ahead and put quota on former Bendel (Edo and Delta). They are only 2 of 36 states, therefore should not produce more than 1 in 11 players. They are blocking development of Hausa and Yoruba players.

[Eaglezbeak]

So a foreign born player of Nigerian heritage can walk into the first team no question (how did Ameobi accomplish it?) But a question is raised about a player starting from youth level.Either way it’s happened and will continue (I have no problem with the question but I answered it how I see fit).

[Cmoke]

Foreign born players must not be allowed in our youth teams because their birth certificates reveal their true ages!

God forbid we waive our competitive advantage!

Cmoke

[nzeogwu]

It is a shame that in the year 2018 we have bigots on this forum that see it fit to even post this kind of statement under the guise of free speech. Almost all reading this will take great offense to this thread and as a parent of foreign born Nigerian athletes, I do. I fail to understand what gives you the moral right or makes you a constituted authority to determine that a Nigerian born and raised in Nigeria has more rights than one born overseas and alternatively of mixed race.

Until this small minded mentality changes, we have no hope. It's going to be Igbo vs Yoruba, Ijaw vs Hausa, Light skin vs dark skin and so on.

[airwolex]

This is how we missed out on Alaba.

[fabio]

This is how we missed out on Alaba.

Alaba is the exception, rather than the rule.

All this furore is lies solely at the comments and actions of Pinnick, who believes those playing in Arsenal second team is/are better than home based players to drive home his inferiority complex point. Pinnick claimed Ahmed Musa "has" a poor techique because he transferred from Nigeria to Russia (forgetting he played in Holland, before Russia).

Everyone should be given equality of opportunity not preference due to location.

[Damunk]

CE needs to update its rules to address this new trends of anti-diaspora bigotry and xenophobia. I see no difference between it and Donald Trump’s immigration controls.

There are some vile people who just hate diaspora kids. No matter how good they are, these people simply do not want them.

Its neither bigotry nor xenophobia.
Its just a sense of injustice that many feel.
It is not an untenable argument and I agree with it.

If you want to develop your youths, focus on them.
If anyone has the resources to travel and come to compete and they are Nigerian, fine. But they have to meet up and the risk is theirs. No automatic inclusion just because you've taken that risk.
And no crying 'foul' after, like that American kid a few years ago.

[Chief Ogbunigwe]

CE needs to update its rules to address this new trends of anti-diaspora bigotry and xenophobia. I see no difference between it and Donald Trump’s immigration controls.

There are some vile people who just hate diaspora kids. No matter how good they are, these people simply do not want them.

Its neither bigotry nor xenophobia.
Its just a sense of injustice that many feel.
It is not an untenable argument and I agree with it.

If you want to develop your youths, focus on them.
If anyone has the resources to travel and come to compete and they are Nigerian, fine. But they have to meet up and the risk is theirs. No automatic inclusion just because you've taken that risk.
And no crying 'foul' after, like that American kid a few years ago.

you just threw a red herring into the discussion. The 'American kid' was not disqualified because of his inferior talent, but rather, because the MRI test declared him older than his birth certificate. It was his right to cry foul. If British DaMunk goes to Nigeria, and an immigration officer pockets your Naija Kpali, alleging that the picture no resemble you, you no go cry foul?

By the way, as a Diasporan (even born abroad), maybe you are taking the space of my village boy that could have been directing movies in Nollywood?

[Damunk]

CE needs to update its rules to address this new trends of anti-diaspora bigotry and xenophobia. I see no difference between it and Donald Trump’s immigration controls.

There are some vile people who just hate diaspora kids. No matter how good they are, these people simply do not want them.

Its neither bigotry nor xenophobia.
Its just a sense of injustice that many feel.
It is not an untenable argument and I agree with it.

If you want to develop your youths, focus on them.
If anyone has the resources to travel and come to compete and they are Nigerian, fine. But they have to meet up and the risk is theirs. No automatic inclusion just because you've taken that risk.
And no crying 'foul' after, like that American kid a few years ago.

you just threw a red herring into the discussion. The 'American kid' was not disqualified because of his inferior talent, but rather, because the MRI test declared him older than his birth certificate. It was his right to cry foul. If British DaMunk goes to Nigeria, and an immigration officer pockets your Naija Kpali, alleging that the picture no resemble you, you no go cry foul?

By the way, as a Diasporan (even born abroad), maybe you are taking the space of my village boy that could have been directing movies in Nollywood?

Chief, you're right. It was the MRI.
But they still cried foul which I felt was rather cynical of them. Basically, they were arguing that the MRI could not be right because they knew their son was the right age. So they were riding on the bad rep of the NFF and virtually accusing them of fraud without reckoning with the fact that the MRI was not infallible - false positives and false negatives are real possibilities as you know.
That to me, is still crying 'foul'. Sour grapes.

Re British born vs Naija born kids
I believe the recruitment should be done at home. Emphasis on kids. I have no problem with full grown men (not the subject of this thread).

However, as a youth development policy with limited resources, I see no reason why the NFF should go looking for Nigerian kids around the world when there are 100m or more right here at home.
A special concession could be made for those who are confident and monied enough to travel over at their own expense without invitation. They can be given a fast track, direct trial with the other local kids for their troubles, but no guarantees just like anyone else. I just don't see why we should go the extra mile scouting abroad when we can't even scout the length and breadth of Nigeria effectively.

Lets face it...the only reason why a talented foreign-based Nigerian kid would get into the Naija youth set-up teams would be because they are at a financial advantage (to travel) OR the NFF is using their limited resources to seek them out and bring them over at the expense of some local kid marooned in some remote town in the ND or Boko Haram territory or Ilorin

This is a youth development program - a means to an end and not an end in itself as Pinnick rightly stated recently. Naija kids abroad have all the development facilities our local kids could only dream of. As youths, if they're so patriotic, they can develop abroad, become adult superstars and then opt to play for the SE instead of England or Germany or France.

Its that simple really. As they get older we can be more flexible. But anything under 20 years of age, I'd say no.

[gmoni1]

Totally against it. Bad for our soccer development and it will destroy us.
Were Oliseh, Okocha, Kanu or Rufai, Ikpeba, Taribo or Amokachi foreign born?

It will stifle and destroy our talent production line and we will only get the inferior talent at the days end.

Abeg abeg.

So my children born outside the shores of Nigeria, should not represent Nigeria.. The west is not our problem, but ourselves..

[monkeypost]

This is the most annoying thread I have ever read on this forum, and this is coming from one of the oldest members on CE, the moderators should take charrge and be responsible, we dont need this nonsense with our football, my advice is lock this thread, it is divisive and sowing of bad blood between Nigerians at home and Nigerians in the diaspora.

[Damunk]

This is the most annoying thread I have ever read on this forum, and this is coming from one of the oldest members on CE, the moderators should take charrge and be responsible, we dont need this nonsense with our football, my advice is lock this thread, it is divisive and sowing of bad blood between Nigerians at home and Nigerians in the diaspora.

I disagree.
Its just some responders going OTT.
There's nothing inherently divisive about this topic, though some might be trying their best to make it appear so.

[ogasir]

This is the most annoying thread I have ever read on this forum, and this is coming from one of the oldest members on CE, the moderators should take charrge and be responsible, we dont need this nonsense with our football, my advice is lock this thread, it is divisive and sowing of bad blood between Nigerians at home and Nigerians in the diaspora.

Why should the thread be locked? If you think it is divisive it is all n your head.

[Bell]

We all know that football is all about hype, and considering our love of foreign this and that
we should be careful how this is done.
I think a match between foreign born U-17 and local kids should settle who gets to be selected
for the main team.
That should make things interesting.

COME TO THINK OF IT...

...a match between local and diaspora youths (not necessarily in the format you are suggesting) is not such a bad idea. Could be a nice way to attract some of the diaspora kids (both the hopefuls and the legits).
Bell

[Bell]

Totally against it. Bad for our soccer development and it will destroy us.
Were Oliseh, Okocha, Kanu or Rufai, Ikpeba, Taribo or Amokachi foreign born?

It will stifle and destroy our talent production line and we will only get the inferior talent at the days end.

Abeg abeg.

HAVE TO DISAGREE HERE

The Olisehs and Okochas would not be displaced by diaspora kids. And I don't think there are enough diaspora kids to submerge capable local kids who'd have plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their abilities.
Bell

[Bell]

CE needs to update its rules to address this new trends of anti-diaspora bigotry and xenophobia. I see no difference between it and Donald Trump’s immigration controls.

There are some vile people who just hate diaspora kids. No matter how good they are, these people simply do not want them.

I'm not sure that I can see the so called bigotry in the OP. He asked a good question which has nothing to do with bigotry (before you accuse me my son was born in the UK). The argument by some is that including players born (and living) outside Nigeria might be disruptive given our penchant for thinking that everything foreign is better. However, if we have organized and structured programmes that are talent based and not subjective it might work.

I AGREE WITH YOU

I don't see this as a case of bigotry and it appears some are just getting unduly worked up.
Bell

[Eaglezbeak]

I don’t see the problem it shows dedication or even loyalty (if they remain with the National Team until senior level) to play for a National Team from youth level so that should be understandable,we have seen young players born abroad turn down playing for the Nigerian senior team without playing for their country of birth at senior level (the likes of Jordan Ibe) so why question a player that wants to play for Nigeria at youth level regardless of where he/she was born?

[Enugu II]

We all know that football is all about hype, and considering our love of foreign this and that
we should be careful how this is done.
I think a match between foreign born U-17 and local kids should settle who gets to be selected
for the main team.
That should make things interesting.

COME TO THINK OF IT...

...a match between local and diaspora youths (not necessarily in the format you are suggesting) is not such a bad idea. Could be a nice way to attract some of the diaspora kids (both the hopefuls and the legits).
Bell

Actually, such a match was played not too long ago but I do not think it definitive as the boys coming from outside Nigeria may not have been the best. The result? The foreign-based lads were walloped.

[felarey]

Seems more like a resource issue. Should the NFF use scarce resources to go scouting abroad for U17 kids and set up camps abroad? Probably not. Should they do it for kids around Nigeria, definitely yes. But if a camp is opened, foreign based kids should be allowed in camp to fight for a spot. I believe this is how it's been. The NFF should also be proactive with contacting foreign based kids with the potential to join the national teams while they're still eligible i.e. register the interest and let the kid know that option is available.

[Bell]

We all know that football is all about hype, and considering our love of foreign this and that
we should be careful how this is done.
I think a match between foreign born U-17 and local kids should settle who gets to be selected
for the main team.
That should make things interesting.

COME TO THINK OF IT...

...a match between local and diaspora youths (not necessarily in the format you are suggesting) is not such a bad idea. Could be a nice way to attract some of the diaspora kids (both the hopefuls and the legits).
Bell

Actually, such a match was played not too long ago but I do not think it definitive as the boys coming from outside Nigeria may not have been the best. The result? The foreign-based lads were walloped.

WHAT THEY CAN DO IS TO ESTABLISH CRITERIA SUCH AS...

...making an invitation only thing with a prospect providing his/her club or high school affiliation, or a video. Need I mention that if it's done for guys it should be done for the girls as well?
Bell