By Salifu Usman, Abuja
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has for the umpteenth time warned player-managers, football agents, coaches and parents of football players against sharp practices, saying it would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found culpable.
The General Secretary of the Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, gave the warning yesterday, saying the Federation has been inundated with tales of some sleazy practices by some persons demanding monies from parents of young players to put their wards in the camp of the U-17 National Team, the Golden Eaglets.
“We have given strict instructions to the coaches of the U-17 National Team, to the effect that no parent or agent or player-manager, or anyone under any guise or pretext, should pay any money to have their ward in the camp.
“Everything must be based on merit, from invitation of players to camp to those who eventually make the team for any match or competition.
“The NFF is monitoring the situation and will not hesitate to go as far as prosecuting any individual who engages in exchange of money or other gratification to have players in camp, even a parent. This is a very serious warning and we are not joking,” he said.
Sanusi in a press statement issued by the NFF director of communications, Ademola Olajire, was quoted as saying that the warning applies to all categories of National Teams.
“I have decided to center this warning around the U-17 team because this is where the practice appears to be most rampant. However, it applies to all the National Teams. The U-20 National Team is also in camp, and the coaches have been handed similar instructions.
“Anyone found to be offering or collecting gratification to have a player in camp or make a team would face the full wrath of the law,” he added.
