U-20: Rep Wants Eaglets To Fight For Shirts

The Golden Eaglets
should not be given “automatic promotion” to the Flying Eagles just because they won the world cup, a member of the House of Representatives has said.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Mr Godfrey Gaiya, told newsmen in Abuja that the U-17 players should fight for shirts to make it to the U-20 national team.
“Football is about competition; today’s player may not be there tomorrow, and I believe in merit.
“I do not believe that success is that because you won U-17 (World Cup) you must be guided to become a Super Eagles player.
“You must justify whatever calling that is coming to you; so for me, there are 160 million Nigerians; everyone is looking for a chance to excel.
“Give other people a chance; if you cannot keep your position, for God’s sake go; somebody else will come.
“So, I do not succumb to the thinking that you must pamper them, shield them, isolate them and promote them; I do not think so.
“They must go and compete and get a club; we monitor them in their various clubs.
“If they still continue to play at the level they were playing before they were invited to the U-17 team, we will bring them to the U-20 team.
“I do not believe in automatic promotion for the sake of it.“
Gaiya said the money given to the Golden Eaglets was neither too much nor too small, adding that it was given to them to enable them to “wash” their jerseys.
He advised the victorious Golden Eaglets to remain humble and aim for higher glory.
“We wish them well and urge them to remain calm and humble because they still have a long way to go and they should not see this as the end but the starting point.
“They should focus on the task ahead and must achieve their full potentials.
“I was happy with Mr President for the token he gave them. For me, the amount of N2 million is very good judgment because the boys have parents.
“They left whatever they were doing for the months they were away; and after succeeding they are going home with N2 million.
“I do not see it as too much and I do not see it as too little,” he said.