By Sunday Agunbiade
Former member of NFF Electoral Committee, Barrister Austel Elumelu has called on the NFF to beam its searchlight on UAE league to boost the performance of Nigeria national team in international competitions.
Speaking to our correspondence recently from United Arab Emirates, he said he was excited to watch Nigerian players exhibit high level of great football artistry at Al-hamariya stadium in a match involving Sporting FC against Gulf United FC ” known as ™ The Eagles ‘(B team) that ended goalless.
” The match was explosive,the intensity was high, Gulf United FC popularly known as ‘ The Eagles ‘featured Six Nigerian players in that league match. They are: Azibagiri Anam,Miracle Nwoagu, Falade Opeyemi Olayemi,Daniel Odumu Sunday,Ibrahim Ashiru Shuaibu, Taofiq Gabriel Yekini. They were all outstanding”, he said
Barrister Elumelu described UAE league as a prolific league capable of producing national team players for Nigeria U20, 23 and of course Senior national team.
Barr. Elumelu, in a conversation with the head scout and assistant coach of Gulf United football club Dubai, Marcello Anyanwu, hailed Nigerian players, describing them as phenomenal.
” This is unprecedented performance and it’s through hard work and commitment that these boys are able to perform optimally like this.
According to reports, Five Nigerian players were in the squad when Gulf united won UAE division One in 2021/2022 season and UAE division two in 2022/2023 season back to back and it’s a plus for the Nigeria National Teams if the authority could pay attention to the league.
“Since 2021 till today I started working as assistant coach and head scout of the club, I have moved more than 10 players from Nigeria to Dubai and integrated them to Gulf United Football Club and they are all doing amazingly well.” Says former NFF presidential Aspirant , Marcello Anyanwu
Elumelu thanked the management of Gulf united for warm reception, creating pathways for Nigerian players to excel. He was optimistic that one or two players from Gulf United football club will be invited to national team Soon.
