A former goalkeeper at now defunct Jegede Boys FC of Lagos, Anthony Funton Agioke has charged officials of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to come up with ideas that can improve the current level of the round leather game in the country.
Agioke, who is now the ream manager of a Lagos-based non-league club, Tonics FC of Ojo, opined in an exclusive chat with Sports247 that the standard of football has dropped across all levels in the country and called for decisive action from the NFF.
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The former shot-stopper recalled glorious days of football at the grassroots, age-grade competitions, domestic league, female football and all the national teams, then lamented how dwindling fortunes have hit all categories of the game in Nigeria.
Agioke, who played alongside Victor Agali, Emmanuel Uzuagha, Peter Ijeh, Emeka Ugali and other talents who became global stars after they were discovered at Jegede Boys, further noted that the glory days of Nigerian football are gone by.
Agioke also disclosed his current status in the game, especially in terms of club management and grooming young players, but pointed out that poor organisation of football in Nigeria is scuttling his efforts.
He stated: “I am now the TM of Tonic FC in Lagos. I am happy that I was able to make a big impact when I took some of our players to Esmoriz of Portugal. My next plan is to take more players to other clubs in Europe.
“My desire is to see more young footballers make it in life, but we are facing issues and obstacles of poor administration of football in Nigeria. I just have to appeal to NFF to please bring our football back to where we were before.”
