Former U-17 and U-20 coach, Sam John Obuh has revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation is the biggest culprit in the age cheat racket. He said the eradication of the menace of age cheating in football in Nigeria can only be tackled if the NFF puts less pressure on the national team coaches. He said until the NFF changes its mindset of winning at all cost, the problem will persist.
Obuh said the Aminu Maigari led-NFF board should be held responsible for the age cheating problems experienced in Nigeria football in recent times. He said the board is known for always piling undue pressure on youth team coaches to deliver instant results at the expense of developing the game with real U-17 players. “Of course, we should develop the game from U-17 level with the real ages and stop the notion of winning that has led us nowhere. NFF and parents always kick against these ideas because they want to win at all cost, “he revealed.
Obuh who led Nigeria to second place finish during the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria, blamed parents of players for coming out with fake birth certificates to defend their ward’s ages. “I also blame most of the players’ parents for giving false information about their children in order to have them make the team at all cost. If we really want to develop the game, all hands must be on deck from the Glass House, parents, players and even the sports journalists to commemorate what FIFA preaches, “Obuh said.