NAN-S-10
League
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin, May 3, 2017 (NAN) Some beach soccer fans in Ilorin on Wednesday called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to institute a functional league to promote the game in the country.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the call was necessary because of the growing followers of the game in the country.
The fans were reacting to Nigeria’s Super Sand Eagles’ ouster in the ongoing FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup at the group stage on Tuesday in Nassau, Bahamas.
NAN reports that the Sand Eagles failed to progress to the quarter-finals after losing 1-2 on penalties to Iran due to a 4-4 draw.
Mr Jaiye Dare said the game had the potential to grow the game like the normal football.
“For Nigeria to qualify from the African qualifiers means we have the potential; the players just need the environment to thrive, which is the league.
“If they can play the game consistently through an organised league, we will not only dominate Africa but register our name in the world,’’ Dare said.
Another fan, Mr Akeem Abolore, said having a functional league would attract permanent beach soccer players.
“If there is a functional league, the players could choose between normal football and beach soccer instead of switching between the two.
“So, you cannot really blame the players because they have been playing the normal football throughout the year and just got assembled for the World Cup some months ago,’’ Abolore said.
In his opinion, Mr Kehinde Daramola, said it was even cheaper for the NFF to organise a beach soccer league than the normal football league.
“What the players need to play is only jerseys and nothing more because they play barefooted.
“So, it is less expensive to organise. I think they should look into it if they want us to be a force to be reckoned with in beach soccer globally,’’ Daramola said. (NAN)
BAY/JI/PDE
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(Editing by Joseph Idika/Peter Ejiofor)