Lagos –  An ex-international, Christain Chukwu, on Tuesday urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and other football authorities in the country, to urgently address the issue of declining spectators at match venues.

Chuwku, a former Green Eagles captain, in  Lagos said that lack of spectators at match venues was inimical for a football-loving country like Nigeria.

The one-time captain of Enugu Rangers International stated that in the past, stadiums across the country were always filled to capacity, with devoted fans of the participating teams.

“The filled-up stadiums always added colour to the atmosphere of match venues. It will be wrong to compare the then and now because the situations are different.

“The problem we have in the league today is that some administrators are there for the wrong reasons.

“In my days, tickets are usually sold out days before the match, and the stadiums were usually filled to capacity,’’ he said.

Chukwu then urged the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to take the advantage of the Super Eagles victory at the last Nations Cup in South Africa and re-brand itself.

“The NPFL should improve on the league quality and ensure adequate corporate sponsorship to encourage large turn-out of spectators at the stadiums.

“The NPFL should ensure that participating clubs in the league had quality players to attract spectators to the stadiums.

“Fans will be thrilled to see a Sunday Mba play, this could attract fans to the stadium because Mba is hot in the league,’’ he added.

Chukwu, who captained the Green Eagles to win the first-ever Nations Cup for the country, urged football administrators to be more professional in the execution of their duties. (NAN)