Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has again responded to critics championing debates that he has been unfair towards players in the Nigeria Professional Football League when it comes to handing invitations to the national team.
Rohr who has invited four players from the home front ahead of the games against Seychelles and Egypt in Asaba, Delta State revealed that he has given call ups to as much as 22 players from the league in Nigeria since coming on board.
“Since I’m here two years and a half, I have invited more than 22 local players and most of them are now abroad,” Rohr told the media
Rohr explained that several factors are working against the chances of players based in Nigeria from making the national team and until those challenges are addressed, it may be a herculean task to have home-based players in the nucleus of the Super Eagles.
He said: “I can tell you that it is not easy for the local players when you see the conditions they have to play. Playing on old astroturf, not able to play for up to six months because the league is on break, how will they be fit and be able to compete with the players from Europe, who have the best competitions for training, playing, organization, health and so on.
“So it is not easy for the local players, but we have four in the team now because I invited two from the Under-20, the captain and the best defender. But each time we invite somebody, a few weeks later he is in Europe. So he is no more a local player."
While Rohr has been commended for at least giving four players, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Valentine Ozornwafor Ikouwem Utin, and Ndifreke Effiong from the home front a chance in his present roster, a former Super Eagles midfielder, Friday Ekpo has advised that the current assistant coaches in the national team should do more in terms of scouting players locally.
“The assistant coaches should do more in terms of scouting and recommending local players to Rohr, I know we have a lot of talents here,” Ekpo told Goal.
