Coaches and backroom staff of Nigeria’s cadet national team, Golden Eaglets have been banned from collecting any firm of fees or payments from parents or agents of youngsters wishing to line out with the squad at next year’s Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, megasportsarena.com reports.
With Coach Fatai Folorunsho Amoo (Arsenal) already stepping up efforts in building another crack Eaglets’ squad, that can go on to rule the world next year and for the sixth time in history, officials of the nation’s soccer governing body have outlined steps to avoid any form of bribery in the squad.
This is contained in statement by the communications department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in which the secretary-general, Dr Mohammed Sanusi issued a strong warning against sharp practices by player-managers, agents, coaches and parents of players.
While affirming that the NFF would go as far as prosecuting anyone found culpable, Sanusi added that all cadres of the Nigerian national teams will also face similar directives, even as he further disclosed that the Federation has been inundated with tales of sleazy practices by some persons demanding money from parents eager to have their wards in the Eaglets’ camp.
Sanusi stressed: “We have given strict instructions to the coaches of the U17 National Team, to the effect that no parent or agent or player-manager, or anyone under any guise or pretext, should pay any money to have their ward in the camp.
“Everything must be based on merit, from invitation of players to camp to those who eventually make the team for any match or competition. The NFF is monitoring the situation and will not hesitate to go as far as prosecuting any individual who engages in exchange of money or other gratification to have players in camp, even a parent.
“This is a very serious warning and we are not joking. I have decided to centre this warning around the U17 team because this is where the practice appears to be most rampant. However, it applies to all the National Teams.
“The U20 National Team is also in camp, and the coaches have been handed similar instructions. Anyone found to be offering or collecting gratification to have a player in camp or make a team would face the full wrath of the law.”
