The reason why Flformer coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro didn’t consider picking players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) during his 18 months spell as coach has been made known to OwnGoalNigeria.com.
Peseiro who led the team to a second place finish at the AFCON losing 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire in the final was criticized in some section of the Nigerian media for not looking the way of players playing in the league. He left his role in February upon the expiration of his contract as coach.
Reflecting on his time here, one of his Nigerian aides revealed that the coach watched couple of games in the league, as a matter of fact more than his predecessor Gernot Rohr did but didn’t see any player who is good enough to make the team.
” We all knew he watched a lot of games while here, but never saw anyone who can challenge for a spot in the team. The second idea was to call a young player who can develop and benefit from the experience of training with the senior team”, he said.
” The one thing he said worked against most players who are perceived as stars in the NPFL is there ages and the fact that they are slow. He spoke with a couple of coaches in the league on this urging them to recruit young and quick players. That is why he only considered goalkeepers and some young players while he was here as coach”, he concluded.
Ade Emmanuel
