Many were labelled 'enemies of progress' by the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) when they raised eyebrow on the list of 'recycled' players released by coach of the National U-20 Women team (Falconets), Edwin Okon, in the qualifiers to the fast approaching FIFA U-20 World Cup in Japan. But like the case of a man flogging a dead horse, the President of the NFF, Aminu Maigari, has suddenly realised the damage being done to the nation's football by coaches, whose stock in trade is to rotate players within the same age-grade football competitions. Maigari's declaration during the week that the NFF would not accept the method of recycling players by coach John Obuh and other coaches of the nation's age group teams is seen in some quarters as the act of a drowning man, considering the fact that the same NFF had maintained sealed lips when people cried out over similar steps taken by national team coaches in recent times.HE roared, forcing his listeners to sense that something was fishy. And by the time he finally delivered his speech, it was clear that the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, meant business.The Coach of the National U-20 male team, John Obuh, had included the names of former Flying Eagles' players like Kenneth Omeruo, Azeez Ajagun, Edafe Egbede, Omo Ojabu and Kayode Olarenwaju in the list of players invited to camp ahead of the coming African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifiers against Tanzania. The players had represented Nigeria at the last FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia and so the NFF boss felt the coach had not done his homework well enough.An angry Maigari told journalists in Abuja that the country has enough talented players of the age limit for the championship and as such, the NFF won't accept Obuh's method of recycling players.He noted that as a team in its developmental stage, the technical crew must look inward and scout players for the qualifying matches rather than fall back on those players, who have played in the same age group competition about two years back.Maigari's reaction to Obuh's list has generated mixed reactions from football-loving Nigerians. While some hail him for speaking out, many see the NFF boss as 'chasing mere shadows.'Since the world football governing body, FIFA, introduced the age-grade competitions in the late 1970s, every of Nigeria's participation has been treated with the suspicion of cheating.From one competition to another, the selection of players by Nigerian coaches for age grade championships has generated series of arguments either on the pages of newspapers or sports programmes on radio and television.In some other parts of the world, a player is expected to move from the U-17 level to the U-20, the U-23 and then to the senior team. But in the case of Nigeria, a player who has featured for the senior teams can be brought back to play in competitions meant for teenagers, thus raising questions as to the rationale behind the practice.Those faulting Maigari's latest move are of the opinion that the man's action is belated.Earlier in the year, there was an outcry by some keen followers of women football in the country against the list of players invited by the chief coach of the Falconets, Edwin Okon, in preparation for the African qualifying series for 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World.Seven among the invited players had represented Nigeria in the same FIFA U-20 World Cup two years ago in Germany. They were Gloria Ofoegbu (Rivers Angels), Uchechi Sunday (Rivers Angels), Ebere Orji (Rivers Angels), Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons), Esther Sunday (Sunshine Queens), Desire Oparanozie (Delta Queens) and Blessing Edoho (Pelican Stars).Of particular worry to the people was the inclusion of Ebere Orji, who featured at the 2008 edition of both the FIFA U-17 World Cup in New Zealand and the U-20 Championship in Chile.Orji had played alongside the likes of former Super Falcons striker, Rita Chikwelu and defender Ulunma Jerome at the 2008 edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. She went on to represent Nigeria at the 2010 edition of the same FIFA U-20 championship in Germany before crossing over to the senior national team (Super Falcons) for last year's World Cup also held in Germany.Some of the analysts argued then that the inclusion of a player like Orji in the Falconets' team in the qualifiers for this year' U-20 World Cup is 'abnormal' in football. The Falconets has since qualified for the championship and is currently preparing to storm Japan with its long list of re-cycled players.One of the people that questioned the list then was former coach of the Super Falcons, Ismalia Mabo, who wondered how possible it was for a player to feature in the same FIFA U-20 competition on three occasions.He said: 'It is so strange to me because under normal circumstances, a player who featured in two previous U-20 competitions should be above the age by the time the third edition is taking place. If some of the invited players actually took part in the 2008 FIFA U-20 World Cup, I don't see any reason why they should be eligible for the 2012 edition. I don't know the age they declared in their passports during their first appearance in 2008, but as a coach, I want to say that it is not common to see the same player appearing in the same under age championship at three different occasions. I am sure something is wrong somewhere.'As head of the NFF, many expected Maigari to rise up to the challenge by calling the Falconets' coach to order. But he kept mute, and allowed some sycophantic officers in the NFF to mislead football fans that the Glass House was in full support of re-cycling of players by the coaches.While the heat generated by the invitation of Orji and others was on, the NFF's Director of Technical, Emmanuel Ikpeme, was quoted as saying: 'As long as they (players) still fall within the stipulated age limit indicates that they are more than qualified to still play for the U-20 national team. Playing for the Super Falcons does not in anyway stop them from representing their fatherland at the junior level.'If Ikpeme's explanation holds water, some analysts suggest that the latest steps taken by the NFF boss (Maigari) in faulting Obuh's list is out of place.'Why is Maigari just waking up from his slumber'' one analyst asked during a radio sports programme in Lagos during the week. 'This is not the first time we are experiencing such trend in the junior teams. For long, some 'desperate egg-heads' officials in the NFF have been fixing the age for the players to pave the way for their eligibility to play in the same competition as many times as they wish.'If Maigari actually wanted people to believe in his latest crusade on re-cycling of players, he should start with the Falconets. There have been too many 'faceless excuses' from the NFF, which had dragged our football backward.'Maigari had explained during the week in Abuja that though the NFF had given the coaches the free hand to handle the technical aspect of their teams, the body would not allow them to derail. 'That would mean bringing the whole process to stagnation because other young and talented players would not have the opportunity to launch themselves into the national teams.'Speaking further, the NFF boss said: 'I made it very clear during my meeting with the technical crew of the U-20 team last week that we would not condone any unseriousness or selfishness in the team. The situation where about four or more of the members of the former U-20 team are recalled by the coaches does not mean well for Nigerian football.'Must we continue to recycle these players when we know that we have plenty of them untapped' This will not be accepted by the federation and we have arranged a meeting between the coaches and technical committee to re-orientate the coaches and see how we can move out of that terrible situation,' he stated.
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