Nigerian Football Federation: Odegbami calls for more roles for retired players
The Former Green Eagles captain, Chief Segun Odegbami, has called for increased and more prominent roles for retired footballers in the management of Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
Penpushing reports that Odegbami made the call ahead of a novelty match he will play alongside other former Super Eagles stars on Saturday in Imo State, as part of ceremony marking the conferment of a chieftaincy title on Chief Success Akagburuonye
The football match is equally part of events celebrating the real estate mogul’s, Imo-born businessman and philanthropist 60th birthday at Ogbor Uvuru, Aboh Mbaise Council Area, adding that former Super Eagles players possess practical insights that can improve Nigeria’s national teams.
Penpushing further reports that Odegbami, popularly known as “Mathematical,” on the soccer field emphasized that retired internationals have the experience to turn football in Nigeria into a goldmine.
“The first proper decade of Nigerian football went through fire and brimstone, with limited resources, facilities, and many challenges. But today, with football academies and modern facilities, our nation’s football now demands first-hand experience, hence the need to involve former players’, he stated.
“The current system doesn’t give former players the opportunity to become football administrators, even though the country has produced many gifted players’, Odegbami added
Penpushing also reports that explained that he and other retired players were in Mbaise to play a novelty match to humble the alma mater of Akagburuonye’s secondary school friends, boasting his squad in the novelty match will wallop the celebrator’s friends
“Yes, I’m 73 years old, but I can assure you that I and other former Super Eagles stars will wallop Akagburuonye’s friends. You will see walking football. We will not be running; it’s not weakness but a deliberate plan to humble them’.
‘Once an Eagle, you’re always one. Just come early, and you will be wowed. Daniel Amokachi and Samson Siasia are already here with me, and we’re expecting about 15 more players. Let’s see how those other players will defeat us,” he added.
The former football czar who coordinated the novelty match called on residents of Imo State to come out in large numbers to cheer the retired players to victory, while the ceremony will combine sport, camaraderie, and fundraising for community projects in Ogbor Uvuru, Aboh Mbaise.
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