By Eddie Akalonu
Ex-international Folorunsho Okenla has said that it was high time Nigerians stopped addressing Super Eagles as home based and foreign based, stressing that the practice has been a source of the dichotomy in the national team.
Okenla, who spoke in Lagos, hailed the Eagles for beating Namibia in the World Cup qualifier played in Calabar. He said that not labeling players would help bring harmony to the team and insisted that it does not matter where a player resides but should be recognised as a professional if he plays as one.
"First I will insist we must drop naming players home-based and foreign-based but recognise players as professionals earning a living playing football. We should not mind whether such players do so here in Nigeria or elsewhere. So long as we have players here who play professional football, then they should be recognised as such.
"I say this having realised it's one of the issues causing problems of dichotomy as in the recognition accorded some players, cutting across welfare package, match bonuses and allowances. So let us end it now to help us move forward." he said.
On the win over Namibia, Okenla said, "The players Keshi fielded for the game, including those from clubs here in Nigeria, showed they merited. I like to commend the team for picking up three points and I believe if they put in more effort and with the backing from all of us, we will definitely get what we want, which is the World Cup ticket and the rest will follow."
Vanguard Nigeria