By Philips Adefioye
Former Nigerian international Tajudeen Disu  has kicked against Super Eagles goalkeeper,Vincent Enyama’s statement that home-based players are not good enough  for the Super Eagles.

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Disu told Vanguard Sports in Lagos that discrediting  the local players was an act of discrimination which brings  division in the team adding that the so-called professional players should be discredited because of their attitude toward national assignments.

“The foreign-based players should be discredited rather than the local players. To be honest with you, when we talk about African football, the home-based players can perform better than their foreign counterparts during the Nations Cup qualifiers or whatever.

If you see in our last match against Guinea in Conakry that ended 1-0 in favor of Guinea, it was when the home-based players came into the game that we saw some changes.

“We all saw Musa Mohammed move when he was introduced into the game, that is why I have been clamouring for the use of our local players. They want to prove to Nigerians that they have what it takes to be national team players.

“These so-called  professionals when in their clubs in Europe give their best but when they come for  national assignments, their best will not be given to their country.

“The way and manner we approach our game in Africa is far different from the Europeans. The foreign players should be blamed not the sincere home-based who are giving their 100 percent best to see their country doing well and that is why I believed that Vincent Enyama is wrong”.
Disu, a member of the Flying Eagles to Mexico 1983 World Youth Championship figured out that Enyeama should not forget that he was also a home-based player with Enyimba football club of Aba before moving to Europe.

“Enyeama was also a home-based player, we all know when he conceded  four goals in a CAF  Champions League match against Ismaili football club of Egypt when he was still with Enyimba. Has Enyeama forgotten that he was given an opportunity by coach Adegboye Onigbinde to be in the 2002 Super Eagles squad to Korea/Japan World Cup as a home-based player? Has he forgotten the opportunity he was given to prove his worth against England as a home-based goalkeeper in such a big  game against former world champions, England?

“Enyeama should be a source of encouragement to the local players rather than condemning them.  During our time, any player that came from Europe found it so difficult to break into the team. With this, if care is no taken, Guinea might qualify ahead of Nigeria.

“I think the local players are more committed compared to the foreign-based counterparts. All they need is words of encouragement  and exposure,” Disu surmised.