Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman of the Nigeria Skilled Soccer League (NPFL), has stated the newly launched Below 17 Youth League would assist the nation choose and put together gamers for worldwide tournaments.
Elegbeley stated this on Saturday whereas talking to journalists in Benin Metropolis, the Edo State capital, in the course of the finals of the primary version of the youth competitors.
“The competitors will function a reservoir for the Nigerian Soccer Federation (NFF) to pick a squad for worldwide competitions,” he stated.
In keeping with Elegbeleye, the second vice-president of the NFF, the competitors will solely deal with younger gamers.
“The place we’ve got an NPFL membership, the youth group (U-17) will likely be a sort of feeder group for the assorted golf equipment.
“When you’ve the U-15 gamers, they will't instantly graduate and play for the premier league, so we want them to undergo the U-17.
“Plateau United FC is already benefiting. I see three boys from the U-17 group coming to the senior group; that's the spirit.
“If we play within the Below 15 and Below 17 competitions each season, we will have a pool of footballers for the NFF to select from.”
Elegbeley lamented the nation's failure to qualify for the final U-17 World Cup, saying it was as a result of poor planning.
He expressed hope that the introduction of the youth league would take away the errors that prevented the nation from getting the ticket for the final Cadet World Cup.
“For instance, we was world champions in U-17 soccer; we gained it 4 to 5 occasions, however sadly we didn't qualify for the final occasion.
“We will't ask why this was as a result of we don't make plans. We don't make plans anymore, and if we don't make plans, we will't get good outcomes.
“Now, with the introduction of the youth league, we could have gamers who will likely be centered,” he stated.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) stories that three ex-internationals, Patrick Pascal, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Seyi Olofinjana, had been introduced as ambassadors and position fashions for the youths within the league.
Elegbeleye added that the ex-internationals would encourage the younger gamers.
“By God's grace, this match has survived. That is what we name 'Premier League U-17 Season One'; the subsequent one is season two,” Elegbeley stated.