There’s still age-cheating in Nigerian football —Kadiri Ikhana •Speaks on his exit from Enyimba News

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There’s still age-cheating in Nigerian football —Kadiri Ikhana •Speaks on his exit from Enyimba

By Nelson Dafe, Benin City on January 6, 2016

Kadiri Ikhana, former two-time coach of Nigerian League champions Enyimba of Aba, has said that Nigerian football is still being bedevilled by age cheats.

The man who once led Enyimba to win the Africa Champions League made the allegation at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City after watching the final match of an under-15 football tournament organised by former Super Eagles defender and coach Austin Eguavoen.

Ikhana praised Eguavoen for organising the competition and expressed admiration for the quality of soccer displayed by the kids.

“The players were fantastic. It’s been long I last saw an age-grade competition like this organised by a singular person and this will go a long way in developing our youths,” Ikhana said.

The veteran gaffer was also impressed by the youthful looks of the kids. “These ones can grow into proper under-17 players in a few years. There’s still age-cheating in Nigerian football, which is not good for the game at all. Someone who is around 23 would say he’s 17, 16,” Ikhana said.

The vastly experienced coach affirmed that age-cheating at the under-17 level is a major reason why Nigeria has never been able to follow up triumphs at that cadre with an Under-20 World Cup title.

“It (age-cheating) is definitely a reason why we haven’t won the Under-20 World Cup because by the time the players play at the under-20 they are almost 30,” he stated.

Speaking on Enyimba’s decision not to renew his contract even after guiding them to win the Nigerian Premier League, Ikhana noted that he was not the only one disappointed with the decision of the People’s Elephants. “I think it wasn’t only me who was disappointed; everyone was,” he said.

Ikhana, who is the first Nigerian coach to lead a Nigerian club side to winning the African champions league when he led Enyimba to the title in 2003 during his earlier spell with the club, is upbeat about the prospects of getting another top job.

“It’s normal with a coach; hiring and firing,” he said. “I expect that I will get another good club to coach and carry on with my job.”

•Photo shows Kadiri Ikhana.

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 6, 2016