Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, on Tuesday placed a ban on European trials by Super Eagles players, saying the development was disrupting the building of a strong home-based national team.
Addressing the players on Tuesday, Keshi said he was frustrated by players strolling in and out of camp on the excuse of embarking on trials in Europe and other parts of the world.
The former Eagles captain thereafter asked players who planned to have trials with foreign clubs in the next 60 days to leave the camp, in order to allow him invite replacements for them.
“I have a programme to build a good team at home that can compete with any national team in the world but I’m distracted every time players walk up to me to ask for permission to travel; that has to stop from now on,” Keshi said.
“Those who want to travel can come and I will pray for them, it’s no quarrel but we are at a crucial bend now and I can no longer tolerate it.”
Keshi, who had successful playing time with European clubs, told the players that Europe was too cold at the moment for any meaningful trials.
The coach said he felt insulted seeing the country’s national team players embark on trials with clubs in unknown leagues in the world, adding that most times these players return without success and still expect to be recalled to the national team.
He said, “If we train players here and they make the national team, such players don’t need trials in Europe to be engaged by top clubs. So why are we in a hurry?”
He told the players the story of Ghanaian legend, Abedi Pele, who went on trials with a club in France and was unsuccessful, but was trailed back to Ghana by another club that saw him play in a trial game.
“If you are good enough, clubs in Europe will come down here to sign you, instead of you exposing yourself to unnecessary health risks over there. I can beat my chest to say I know what the standards are in Europe because I have played there. If I tell any manager that a particular player is good, such a player will be signed on because they know my pedigree,” Keshi added.
According to Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, the likes of Chibuzor Okonkwo, Jude Aneke, Obinna Nwachukwu and Kalu Uche all went for unsuccessful trials with European clubs during the last camping session of the national team.
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