THE NPFL youth league organized by Nigeria Professional Football League recently concluded in Benin City, Edo State capital is said to be an innovation geared towards changing the narratives of the settings of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club’s respective feeder teams.
The competition as arranged commenced from zonal centers in the six geopolitical zones of the country. It was exclusive for Nigeria premier league clubs’ feeder teams in Nigeria.
Four teams qualified from the zones. They had their play off at Benin City, where the young lads displayed football artistry at the full glare of some Nigerian ex-internationals, football players’ scouts and football coaches.
The 2024 tournament is the pilot edition of the yearly competition. It is a platform to harness and produce hidden talents; an avenue to take Nigeria youths out off the streets, and give them hope that if they work hard their future is efficiently promising.
In an interview with the captain of the victorious 2024 edition of the tournament, Rivers United feeder team, Paul Junior Paul, on how he feels as his team emerged champion of maiden edition of the championship, he said: “We feel very happy because this is the opportunity we have been looking forward for, where we showcase ourselves and our talent. We are happy with God that we came out victorious”.
The youths’ league should be seen as a developmental programme to harness and project young future players to limelight for the country.
The youths should also be discouraged by euphoria of winning the youth league, because it is not the destination but a stepping stone to their footballing carrer.
Again, it should go a long to downplay the phenomenon of “must play outside Nigeria” before featuring in national team syndrome in Nigeria Football.
The Youth League shall open up ways for the Nigeria premier league clubs to look inwards and sign-on the players produced in their various feeder teams, which is hitherto one of the conditions to float a premier club in Nigeria.
Because sports in general is youthful activity, the potential of the league is quite enormous that deserves urgent attention to curtail the youths from restiveness and indolence inherent in Nigeria society, because idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
Now that the Tournament Champion has emerged, what next?
The football house should invite the selected players and officials during the play off for camping, against the next National Under-17 team.
For the various premier league clubs to graduate their players that participated at the playoff in Benin City to their senior teams, because they have proved their worth during the tournament.
Nigeria Football Federation should have standing rule that is enforceable for all the premiere clubs in Nigeria to sign-on at least three of her feeder team player in a season, otherwise the whole essence will be an illusion and efforts in futility
