Ugbade Blames Players’ Attitude For Football Dwindling Fortunes

Nigeria’s exinternational, Nduka Ugbade, has attributed the dwindling fortunes of the nation’s football to the lackluster attitude of the current players in the national teams.

The U-17 assistant coach said that the attitude of the players was because the government had failed to live up to their promises at one point in time.

“During our time it is quite different from what we have now, the interest was there to represent the nation and then to do the best that you can.

“Some of this problem is when you see these things happening now and you look back to the ones that have served the nation.

“A lot of people are no longer interested in the desire to work so hard and to spill their blood if possible not even the sweat to achieve for the nation, a lot of youths now are just concerned about themselves.”

He added that after 25 years, the houses and national awards promised to the 1985 U-17 team that won the FIFA World Championship in China had not been given to them.

“Until this very day, I am still struggling to ensure that after 25 years the houses and national award and so many other things that were promised my young lads are given to them.

“I will prefer that everything get destroyed and regeneration comes out of it than the quick fix.”

Ugbade said that he still had hope in the future of the country’s football where people would come to the stadium from the early hours till late just to watch matches.