NPFL Can Solve Super Eagles Goalkeeping Problems – Ike Shorunmu
Nigerian football legend and newly-appointed Super Eagles Team B goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu, believes the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) can solve the country’s goalkeeping problems, saying that he would devote attention to the league.
Shorunmu was the first-choice goalkeeper of the national team and played at the 2002 Korea/Japan FIFA World Cup. Shorunmu was brought into the Nigerian national team by coach Clemens Westerhof in 1992.
The former goalkeeper for the Super Eagles noted that in the past, Nigeria’s goalkeepers came from the NPFL, which discovered and nurtured some of the safest hands in Africa, adding that with adequate attention, more quality talents could be discovered from the league.
Shorunmu said no sane coach would ignore local goalkeepers if they prove they can do the job with good performances for their clubs. Shorunmu called on home-based goalkeepers to prove that they are equal to the task when invited to the national team.
“If great goalkeepers like Vincent Enyeama, Peter Rufai, Alloy Agu, Wilfred Agbonavbare and others can be discovered from the domestic scene before moving to clubs in Europe, I see no reason why such situation cannot be replicated now,” Shorunmu said.
“I believe talents abound in Nigeria, all we need to do is to come together to discover the talents, expose and nurture them to quality players.”
The former Stationery Stores of Lagos star called on stakeholders in Nigerian football to find ways of revamping the NPFL to attract sponsors to the competition. Shorunmu also said that more players would be attracted to the league if they feel they can make descent living in the domestic league.
“Going overseas to get goalkeepers for the Eagles is not the best if we consider the past achievements of goalkeepers discovered in Nigeria,” Shorunmu added.
“However, the home-based players can only assert their authority in the national team if they work hard and prove that they deserve to get national team invitation.”
Chidi Nwoke/The Guardian.
