Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to address the nation’s persistent football development challenges by establishing a proper technical center. He described the lack of such infrastructure as a significant barrier to progress.
In an interview with Brila.net, Sodje stressed the importance of a world-class technical center in nurturing talent from grassroots to professional levels, asserting that it should take precedence over the senior national team.
“We’ve been suffering technically for so many years. From Amaju’s time till now, we’re struggling big time,” Sodje stated.
He continued, “It doesn’t take many years to set up a center, but it’s very important. It’s more important than the national team or anything else they do in sports. Their focus should be on establishing a center where all national teams, not just the Super Eagles, can benefit.”
Drawing from his experiences in the UK, Sodje underscored the transformative role of modern training facilities. He pointed out that several African nations have made significant strides in this area and urged Nigeria to follow suit by building a center that can compete with the best on the continent.
“In Nigeria, we are far behind. If they are serious about making sports a viable profession, then having a center is essential,” he concluded.
Sodje’s comments come amid growing calls for reforms in Nigerian football to enhance competitiveness on the global stage and foster sustainable development.
