By KATE OBODO
Former Bukola Babes FC and Mobil Pegasus gaffer, Patrick Awaja has said that Nigerian League players are great potentials and could command first team shirt in the Super Eagles if properly harnessed.

Awaja, who tinkered Bukola Babes now renamed Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club to gain promotion to the Premier League last season, told Inside Out Premier League in Owerri that there ought to be a plan that will encourage the development of players through football academies, educating players through the feeder teams in the league from age 11 and 12 years.

The objective, he said, is to have good players who can be groomed for the national teams.

According to him, “Nigeria has rich and talented pool of players with great potentials who could be drafted into the national teams if properly handled from the grass-roots (feeder teams),” he began.

“If really we want to grow like other leagues in the world , club owners and coaches ought to focus more on feeder teams and also make it their priority because it stands as a breeding ground especially in catching them young for the senior league and the national teams.

In Europe, the feeder teams feed the clubs in the league. That is why, they have quality players to contend with, but here the reverse is the case. I believe in the youth because having them could help a lot.

That is why I doff my hat for Keshi for what he is doing with the local players. Really, if he continues like that, it will go a long way in helping him have a formidable home-Eagles,” he said.