U-17 Age Saga, NFF To Be Blamed – Chairman

The Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Rivers State chapter, Honour Sirawoo has blamed the over age saga, trailing the Nigerian Under -17 team on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

Sirawoo who made this known in a telephone chat with Tidesports, said the issue is regrettable as NFF has refused to learn from her past experience.

The SWAN chairman stated that the scan result that has resulted in the disqualification of 29 players is a big slap on NFF, saying that the association has refused to learn from the previous ban by the international body.

“Nigerian has refused to learn from their experience, so let us go to the World Youth Championship and fail, may be that will make us to learn,” he said.

In a related development, the National Vice President of SWAN, South-South, Gabriel Nwanetanya told Tidesports in an exclusive interview that the development is a setback for the country and should be guarded against.

Nwanetanya regarded it as an embarrassment to the country, stating that it may also cast doubt on the country’s past achievement in football competitions.

He blamed NFF for not restricting coaches to the expected age bracket during their selection, adding that the newly appointed coach, John Obu should be exonerated from the blame.

He reiterated that Nigerians should be ready to accept whatever performance the team would put up at the youths championship, billed to hold in Nigeria from October 24.

He continued that the “dropping of 29 players will affect the team in all areas,” as the newly selected players would find it difficult to blend in less than two months.