Fidelis Ilechukwu wants more grassroots players inclusion in NPFL clubs mandatory

Fidelis Ilechukwu of Plateau United has appealed to the leadership of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) to make it mandatory for Nigerian Professional Football League clubs to give more opportunities to grassroots players.

The former head coach of Heartland and MFM FC made this passionate request as FC Jassy defeated Austin Amatu Academy to emerge champions of the maiden Fidelis Ilechukwu Football Tourney held in Jos, Plateau State.

“With the new season kicking off soon, it’s very important that the IMC makes it compulsory for clubs in the Nigerian Professional Football League to have a good number of young players in their squad,” Ilechukwu told media.

“NPFL teams should be a mix of both experience and young. It worries me to see old players in the domestic league every season, while the talented grassroots players engage in free-age tournaments when they can easily break into the starting XI of the top teams.

“NPFL clubs’ penchant for old players makes it difficult for our football to catch up with the developing new trends in the game.

“I know the former NPFL leadership had in place a youth players clause of five (5). Clubs were permitted in Article A.2.1.2 to register up to five such players aged 16-18 and issue them jersey numbers 36-40 in addition to the regular 35 players allowed for a season. The players can also be withdrawn at any stage in the season and replaced by another player of their category.”

“Giving more of these talented players the chance in the NPFL will go a long way to better our football, as the NPFL is the bedrock of our national cadet teams,” he continued.

“As coaches in the NPFL, we must give these next generation of stars the platform to showcase their skills. For me, it’s not just having five of them in teams but having the will to start them or give them match time.

“Once clubs begin to give these young players a chance to break into the system, they will be able to supplement their squads with unlimited additional players under the age of 21 years old, which will be good for the NPFL.

“It’s only when these young players get exposed early to the rudiments of the game on the big football stage, that they can easily pass football trials in Europe.

“I want to crave the IMC leadership to see it as necessary as there should be a kind of reward mechanism where clubs get rewarded for giving young players match times. Such benefits will see clubs have a new orientation towards players in the grassroot.”