Award-winning sports journalist, Saddick Adams has attributed foreign-born players choosing their African countries as their second option when considering which country to represent at the senior international level to lack of basic sports infrastructure.
He said African countries and their Federations should be blamed for allowing foreign-born players to show no interest in their African roots when choosing a country to represent.
“I agree players should be proud of their African heritage and represent their fatherlands in their prime. But blaming the players and ignoring all other major factors and circumstances will not cure the topic. It is not only the players that are opportunistic. Part and in fact a bigger share of the blame goes to the African countries and their Federations.” He wrote.
“Lot of these countries and Federations do not even have basic training facilities in their countries to start with. No deliberate plan for talent development both home and abroad.” Saddick Adams added.
“A child born to migrant parents and developed in England by the English government and FA, will not wake up at age 16 and suddenly feel proud about a country that has never contacted him and a country he has never visited and feel part of a culture he has only read or heard.”
His comment comes after Former Super Eagles skipper Mikel John Obi, descended on footballers of Nigerian descent who chose Nigeria as a second option.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW
Dear Mikel Obi,
I perfectly agree with your sentiment on diaspora players choosing Africa as their second option. I agree players should be proud of their African heritage and represent their fatherlands in their prime.
But blaming the players and ignoring other all other major factors and circumstances will not cure the topic.
It is not only the players that are opportunistic. Part and in fact a bigger share of the blame goes to the African countries and their Federations.
Lot of these countries and Federations do not even have basic training facilities in their countries to start with. No deliberate plan for talent development both home and abroad.
You cannot talk about patriotism and overlook the duties owed by the state to the the potential player.
A a child born to migrant parents and developed in England by the English government and FA, will not wake up at age 16 and suddenly feel proud about a country that has never contacted him and a country he has never visited and feel part of a culture he has only read or heard.
A migrant parent whose child is born and developed in Spain with huge potentials will no wake up one day and carry their son to Guinea Bissau when Spain comes calling. Because they feel patriotic.
The biggest blame should be laid at the doorstep of the African countries not the players.
What are the responsibilities of the African Federations? Is it the core duty of building their fundamentals and developing the abundant talents in their home countries or to go begging players born elsewhere?
And they mostly go convincing these lads ONLY when they have become stars and professionals. No contribution or whatsoever in their development.
Is that not being opportunistic too?
Take Morroco for instance. Why does this trend not apply to them?
Hakimi was born in Netherlands but he was contacted by Morocco when he was about 14. He played for U-16 up to Senior team.
Amrabat was born in Netherlands. He was contacted and partly developed by Morocco at age 13 while still in Netherlands.
Hakim Ziyech was born in Netherlands. Morocco didn’t wait till he was 20 and being courted by Netherlands. He was snapped when he was 16.
Ben Segir of Monaco was born in France. He is only 19 but has Moroccan orientation since 13.
Your FA in Nigeria and my FA in cannot say same for Eze and Mainoo.
Of course every country wants top talents in their national teams.
Same as every player wants an International CAP especially at the World Cup in his profile.
But without a deliberate plan, we’ll always have to wait till their Plan A options are extinguished. Because we play role in their development and so we’ve no morale right to force patriotism on their necks.
By the way why do we not have the guts to reject them even when they finally choose to come represent us at the twilight of their careers????
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
