Many young men and women are hurting as they get shut out by unscrupulous coaches and agents thereby denying them opportunity to play. These are their stories
My name is Henry Ejiofor Chekwube, I have been keeping this for very long time because I don’t have anyone to tell but my heart is full of joy as I came across this issue. I am a player who plays as a centre defender, left back and midfielder, but to tell you the fact I have been going to screenings, trials which I always pass but after that the
coach [would] call me to come behind and [would say] to me, “You must give me 50,000 Naira for you to proceed forward or else you will not go any [farther].” And for me I
know how I struggle to feed myself, to get money for the screenings and trials which I have attended and also to buy kits. Where will I get that huge amount of money I ask myself after thinking about that I told him that I don’t have that amount of money, so he walked me out of the trial, just because of my poor back ground. All these things have discouraged me in football most especially in times of screening or trial because of the politics in Nigerian football. Please if I can see someone to sponsor me I will be very grateful.
By Henry Ejiofor
I thank you guys (Goal.com) for creating this avenue, paying for screening or trials is not an issue sometimes. But what irritates most times is that before screening they have selected who they want. Others paying are just wasting there money.
I am from Enugu State, I was once with a club (junior team) we used to train at the Sandy pitch inside National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Anytime our coach informed us about,
scouts coming, starting from the next training you start to notice new faces coming to train with us and the coaches won't say anything about it, meaning they know about them and denying me and my colleagues our chances of being selected. Because of all these things I was forced to obtain JAMB [form] the following year and thank God today I am a finalist in one of the Nigerian universities.
By Eze Paschal
Thanks for giving us this opportunity. I remember the very first Aspire Africa screening I did in Akure, Ondo State. It was meant for Under-13s, on the day one of the screening they picked some of us and told us to come back another day for the final stage of the screening that the officials of Aspire from Qatar will be around then. On getting there for the final stage of screening, I saw people that are three times my age, I was shocked wondering what they came for. When the officials from Qatar got there we had already kitted up. The Nigerian officials told us (we that were picked on the first day of the screening to sit down) and the older ones that just came that day should go on the pitch. We sat down in the sun and they later told us that we were too young and we should go home. I couldn’t cry that day because God is in heaven to judge. There are many happenings. Please, plead to our government.
By Fisayomi Durojaiye
My name is Chinonso Samuel. I am an indigene of Anambra State, though I grew up in the North, I have been playing soccer ever since I know what soccer is, from kid till now, which involve my love, respect and commitment. Talking about the corruption, tribalism, and bribery, and sentiments, and greed is growing in Nigerian football system and the governing bodies and competition organizers, which can never help us grow.
Giving up is one thing I count out of achieving my goal. Why because, I don't believe in what the rich men do with their money to get their children on top, when it shouldn't be so.
Football has been my love, my life, and commitment even in classroom I am thinking on how to get my game out of Nigeria. That which has happen to me will be told so that all of you can learn. I urge that we young footballers should be given a chance to prove ourselves and let the coaches, scouts change and learn to do good to us.
I have played in a lot of clubs and a lot of competition and I have gone to a lot of places to showcase my talent and a lot of trials to get the best out of me, for the world to see the potential in me. But due to the kind of people we have in Nigeria football system, the opportunities I get are jeopardized by the coaches despite my performance and scouts who have friends, brothers and godsons to work a way for, which is very bad. I can remember when I went for a trial in a town in Akwa Ibom state, after my performance I wasn't picked and when I asked why, I was told I am not from there and my chance of joining a big competition in the capital is limitless.
Tribalism is the thing spoiling the opportunity of we young footballers to get a chance, which is everywhere. But I believe that I am going to make it to the level I want and to play for the world to see me, because Nigeria isn't the only country to succeed. I urge every coaches and organizers to always do what right to us. It is our dream,
they should have the heart to help us according to our performance.
By Nonso Samuel
My name is Adegoke Mojeed, I am from Ekiti. I am a player of Hatesleem FC Aramoko Ekiti. Firstly will speak about our team generally there is even better player than me in the team that have played and struggled in Nigeria even in Ghana to try their luck only to come back in disappointment because they can't bribe the agent and coaches. It saddens to see that there [are a lot of] Ronaldos and Messis here in Nigeria struggling to achieve their aim and.
Secondly, I am a footballer who has trained hard to be in the big stage but only to be dropped at trials and screenings because I don't have money to bribe. After the trial the coaches will say you tried and your display is good but you have to offer them cash before you are picked. If we can develop this crying youth and forget about partiality who knows where and what the dropped poor players will achieve? The poor are crying, please help us. I wish to line up with my dream club Chelsea. After showing the agents we are good, yet they kill our dreams. Talented players now have to bow for the average player, that’s why football has died in Nigeria.
By Adegoke Mojeed
I am happy that I am writing to reveal the issue in football that bothered me so much. I am a young growing teen with the gift of playing soccer, all I wish for from God is being a professional footballer. But I, or should I say, we young people are being deprived when there is an opportunity of being chosen as a known footballer because of our status in the society. I play in a football academy in Lagos, though I have never had the opportunity of any football screening but what of those that have been there and they were cheated? I now believe that football is dead in our country. I will never give up but it gets to a stage that we will never have the opportunity again and the dream of becoming a footballer will fade away. And people will be left to engage in the field in which they are not good at or even join bad gangs and crime will continue to increase in the nation. Please we need solution to this issue.
By Badarudeen Abiodun
My name is Chukwuma Paulinus, I’m a very talented player that finds it easy to adapt to so many playing positions due to my skills and ability on the ball. I have paid so much money to attend trials in Nigeria but all to no avail. I also paid 7 thousand naira for Kwara Academy trial and had to travel far for the trial and on the day of the screening I played so well but I noticed that the coaches came with their players and I ended up being dropped. I also participated in Glo trial at Benin where I saw a parent giving money to coaches and I felt so rejected. I stopped going for trials because I know all this deal with connections. God help grassroots players and I will keep praying for Nigeria for a better change.
By Chukwuma Paulinus
My name is Samuel Okewana and I'm 24 years old. I have played soccer all my life and I just lost hope some few months ago and I dropped it for a job earning $50 (8250 Naira) a month. I'm a striker and I have scored goals in all
games
I have anticipated in, both local and professional training grounds and trials. I have beaten a record of 2 goals in every game I play. At most trials I went to in Lagos and Abuja have failed to put me through because my parents are financially struggling and all my life I had a dream of becoming a professional footballer leading my squad to victories and my country too but unfortunately because I
live in Nigeria, a country where everybody accepts bribes and everybody works for money not for good. I lost interest because I've seen a lot happening to poor footballers which is very sad and it's all because of the corruption.
By Samuel Okewana
I have attended three screenings and I'm now working. First screening I attended, the coach asked my mom to pay him so that my name will be in the list. Second screening, I passed the screening and my name was changed and last two years I passed again and the coach asked me for two hundred thousand (200,000 Naira) to leave my name to the last twenty six players that were chosen. I'm a striker and 20years old.
By El'Barnas Chukwudi
It’s something normal. I am 17 years-old but I have played football all my life. My coach himself told me that I and my friends will make a great team. Ever since then I have gone for trials many times but since there is nobody to help promote us, we always get snubbed. Each time I see the national team play, I shed tears. All we want is free living not tribalism or godfatherism.
By Barnabas Ehis
It is no news at all when it comes to nepotism, god-fatherism and mediocrity glorification in the Nigerian footballing arena. I am a grass root football coach having to look at the wasting array of raw talents that will never be tapped simply because some negative-minded opportunistic individuals find themselves in the helm of football administration in our beloved Nigeria. I am in Kaduna State but find it difficult to believe that Kaduna United and Ranchers Bees are nowhere when it comes to football in Nigeria with the talent I see around. In the last Under-17 camp in Abuja, I know very exceptionally talented young boys who went there and were asked if they brought letters while another lad was asked if he knows any senator "because here there is no place for you" without even giving the opportunity to kick the ball. Without any iota of doubt, I have seen kids that are potentially better than Mikel Obi and the rest. They are killing our future and our economy. Imagine if the system operates openly and fairly, do you know the contingent of export that Nigeria will make when it comes to football talent? Many families will go off the poverty radar, businesses will be established by made players and our national teams will have plenty to choose from. It’s a shame that we are where we are.
By Solomon Patrick Nizah
I've been a victim of this matter. I've played in local clubs since my childhood, I became popular as a lot of people knew me. I've participated in a few screenings, I'll beat the 1st
stage, 2nd stage, but as it gets on and on I’ll be dropped. One that pained me the most was when I went for Aspire Africa. I did my best and my friends were thinking that I was going to be picked only for one of the coaches to come and take me out of the line and fix another boy because I knew nobody. It all happened in Calabar. I became frustrated and abandoned football totally. Thanks to Goal for helping me air out my disappointment towards football.
By John Unwana
Hi Goal, I am Afolabi Ibrahim, I play for Accurate FC, Ore, Ondo State. I went to a trial at Ijebu Ode. I was chosen among the twelve players. The agent later told us to bring 50,000 Naira. Some guys paid the money but you cant avoid the cash that’s why am still in Nigeria.
By Afolabi Ibrahim
My name is Iwuji Osinachi, I am from Imo State, Nigeria. I play at Skyhulk Football Academy in Port Harcourt, but due to no money to help my self over there I decided to come back to my state. I have visited many football trials in my state, but everything will end up you have to pay so and so amount of money before you make it but I have nobody to help me my parents are poor. Some times I have to sell my phone to help myself. I have tried all I can to be a superstar but poverty has slowed my career. All I know is that I will never give up, because I believe in myself, football is in my blood.
By Iwuji Osinachi
After reading the story of Joseph on Saturday & the admin giving the hopeless & the voiceless a hope & a voice to speak, I am very delighted to write, at least to share my story with fellow Nigerians. I am Chinedu Paul Azuka, I am 20 years old, I have played Pepsi Football Academy, Police Machine Academy and Green Horse Football Academy. I have also gone to trials of different kinds. At all those trials, I witnessed the same thing, bribery, god-fatherism, nepotism, for you to be picked you must bribe the officials. In 2009 I went to Abuja Goal Project Pitch for Under 17 screening, we the ordinary Nigerians were given just 10 minutes to play, before the screening began we were asked who sent us? Right in my presence, I saw prominent men giving the coaches envelopes on behalf of their children. After playing for 10 minutes, we the ordinary Nigerians were sent parking. After then I got opportunities to travel to Dubai, Turkey, Switzerland, I lost all these opportunities due to monetary issues. I am from a poor home, my parents could not foot the bills. After all those opportunities, I gave up on football, now I am a trader. I am one of the best defenders Nigeria never had.
By Chinedu Paul Azuka
I am Sowole Moshood, a grassroots player that played for almost 8years without progressing. I went for many trials, screening all to no avail. Out of 5 children in my family, I was the only one that was motivated to be a footballer. My parents did not support me at the beginning but they later supported with the help of my coach to convince them. After 8years of football without any progress, I repeated a class because of my loyalty to football but after so many years of waiting, going from one screening to another, trials upon trials with many football academies and not being chosen, I later decided to pursue academics and Allihamdulilahi I am in my final year now in a university. Azeez Ramon of Almeria is my mate, we used to call him "Shanko" then and he made it to top football.
Nigerian government doesn't encourage grassroots football at all and they have turned grassroots coaches into liars because our coach always told us then that we will one day play in Europe but due to no support from government, some of us dumped football for another thing. I know I didn’t play football to where I wanted but by the grace of God I will support my unborn children to play football to any length. Thanks for this forum for Nigerians to voice out their discomfort. Politics is drawing Nigeria football backward, no doubt.
By Sowole Moshood
I am Vin, a Deltan. It's hard to say what I have because it won't change anything. Nigerian football line is nothing to talk about. They know themselves and this has hampered so many things for us as a football country. I'm not saying I’m the best in what I do concerning how I perform in the pitch, but with a chance people will get to know me.
Youth academy is not for a country like Nigeria. They know themselves.
By Emuje Vincent
I am Adeoba Adebayo from Lagos State, age 17 and undergraduate. I’ve been playing soccer since a kid at grassroots level and any team or friends I play with, I’m always pivotal. I always had the dream of being Ronaldinho. I always see myself as representing Nigeria and doing better than the likes of great Jay Jay, Kanu and co. did. But there isn’t opportunity to do so. Gradually the dream is dying. Virtually every teenage boy overseas has the opportunity but it’s something we lack. It’s painful, though God gave us the talent it’s going to be a waste if when the time comes we return it back to Him without using it.
By Adeoba adebayo
My name is Collins Chukwuede. After I read the article on nepotism in the Nigeria grassroots football sector, I felt the time is right for me to speak out. I am a goalkeeper and I started playing football right from my days in primary school. I train hard even for my young age and many people then kept praising me and encouraging me. I then joined a football academy when I graduated from my primary school and I got the nickname Iker Casillas (after my role model). I fondly remember a trial that I went to in Lagos a year ago and that was where I received the shock of my life. After weeks of training and screening, the 23 of us were called and the people who were chosen went through but I was left out, the other 7 goalkeepers there were surprised and asked me how and why I was dropped from the team because most of them knew I was way better than them. It was three months later after I returned to my base at Enugu that the trial coordinator called me and said the words that I will never forget: "Collins, you weren't chosen because you couldn't pay the requested 5 thousand dollars." But missing out that opportunity never stopped me from believing that I will make it in future. Thank you Goal.com for giving us this chance to express ourselves.
By Collins Chukwuede
I'm Jesse Adams, I always had this dream of being a footballer but I always get shot down by most coaches due to me not having a godfather. A perfect example was when I represented my state of residence for the 'Eko2012' National Sports Festival but was told to go back to my state of origin after playing a huge part in qualifying them for the events proper. Second case was after being invited to an NPFL team for screening, I got there to realize that someone had already used my slot to sign for the club, I was also dropped from the squad to represent my university at the 2011 West African University Games (WAUG), stating that I was a freshman then. So many experiences…Thing is I had to drop football temporarily to pursue education because age is no longer on my side... Question is, why won't I lie about my age if I now have a quality offer?
By Jesse Adams
I am Ekemere Chidiebube Moses, a Nigerian football player/lover who's yet to be seen and known in the world of football. My own view in Nigerian football development is that it's not just all about money and connections as most people are saying, to me it's about God and destiny, if God has it that one will get there so shall it be. My fellow future footballers, lets stop seeing money and connection as a barrier to our future but as a sacrifice and stepping stone. Most of us upcoming footballers are not rich but we want to start playing in Europe (Chelsea, Man U) instantly. As for me, all I need now is God’s help in form of a good certified football agent who can help me secure a trial abroad. I’m ready to pay any amount, not because I’m too rich, but because I have made enough savings for years to fight for my future. Let’s stop blaming people and make sacrifice because if most of the stars tell you their story, you will know what it takes to get there
By Ekemere Chidiebube
Thank You Goal.com for this initiative, it has given voice to the voiceless. I do hope the message gets to the right ears that will lead to action. After reading the stories of others, I am afraid to say my case is very much different from others.
I am Simeon, but this story is not about me, but about my brother. His is that of a person who was hoodwinked into parting away with more than half a million naira and his international passport.
It was about a young man who came close to my family all because he wanted to dupe us through my brother. He told us he had an agent who is based abroad and that he could help secure him a trial spot in a foreign-based team. Although we knew a trial was 50:50 we still wanted to take the risk, banking on my brother's potentials and ability and a little luck. After this, the young man convinced us that we should take the offer as it might not come again, that he had to expand the numbers of players traveling because he saw talent in my brother. The
funny
part is, it wasn't my brother only.
I'll love it if Goal.com can carry out an investigation as I will be willing to give names and numbers of people involved.
By Simeon Osaze
I am Ashinze Paul and I am happy for this opportunity to tell our football stories in Nigeria. Me and my twin brother have played for so many academies in Nigeria with bitter experiences to tell, all because we don't have a known sponsor. Last year we were with a team at Jay Jay Okocha Stadium in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State but never got the chance to travel with the team. Actually the coach liked my play but the owner of the academy was keener to know who brought us there. The proprietor told us that all the players have sponsors and we should find one. I played just two matches in a year. To train with the team we pay to one of the coaches. All these are killing football in Nigeria. Guys with the passion, skills do not make it to the big stage. I believe only former internationals that have passion for the game have the chance to rewrite the story in Nigeria. But I am still in football and hope God sees me and my brother through. Thanks and God bless.
By Ashinze Paul
Hello, my name is Badmus Opeyemi Hammed, I am a Nigerian citizen and I live in Sango Ota, Ogun State. I am a young talented football player, my entire dream is to play abroad due to Nigeria football corruption, I have participated in many football academy trials in Nigeria, but it’s unfortunate that they will choose many people ahead of me because they have godfathers. If I am lucky to be chosen, they will request for big amount of money. Many of my friends participated in Glo Academy trial, but they were droped because they don't know people and lack of godfather. And many footballers like me got some means to sponsor themselves but unfortunately they are duped by fake agents or scouts. I will be happy if Nigerian football will kick out politics and corruption. Thanks
By Badmus Opeyemi Hammed
It's a pity to we young Nigerians that when we have the opportunity to take part in screenings/trials, you will not be allowed to enter the premises because you are not from a high profile individual. The one that surprises me a lot is that even after the screening they would select those ones that you know you are far better than on the pitch due to bribes. I am not just saying this, it has happened to me more than 7 times. Please we young Nigerians strongly need help at the grassroots level. I have gone through a lot in grassroots level trying to raise up my games to professional level but due to high level of bribery and 'IM' (Igbo slang meaning 'ima mmadu)' I am still nowhere.
By Egbuaba Jideofor
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