Patronising Foreign Leagues Is Disservice To Local League, Sodeje Tells Governors

The rate Nigerian governors and other government officials openly promote foreign football clubs is a gross disservice to the country’s football growth and development, says former Super Eagles star, Sam Sodje.

The Nigerian defender, fondly called Super Sam, stated this I a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, stressing that if such generous love and support were extended to local football clubs, football fans in the country would follow suit.

While saying the trend is at the detriment of the local league, former Tottenham Hotspur FC player whose exploits for over 15 years across mainly English clubs speaks volumes, averred that it was hard to see Spanish, German, English or any nationality’s government officials and football associations openly supporting or promoting a football club of another country.

He, therefore, rolled out benefits that accompany such patriotic gesture of public office holders queueing behind their local league rather that amorously supporting foreign leagues.

“From the start, I want to make it clear that our government officials have the Constitutional right to be associated with any supporters’ clubs of their choice as this right cannot be taken away from them in any disguise.

“However, I want to, herein, point out the positive developmental effects that regular government officials, such as governors, ministers, NFF etc,’s visits to our stadia on match days will have on the promotion of our football league and its development effects in the country.

“It is my clear belief that there will be a remarkable improvement in the number of supporters coming into our stadiums where government officials are able to make it a point of duty to come to the stadium to watch our league games on match days as they currently do during match days in other parts of the world” he stated.