Bayelsa Queens’ coach, Ogbonda Whyte, has called on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to pay more attention to the quality of players in the local leagues.

He believes that the hunger and drive of local players can complement the experience and exposure of foreign-based professionals to create a more balanced team.

In an interview with Brila.net, Whyte stressed need for scouting and merit-based invitation to the national, as well as thr need for a quota system that allows more home based players get called up.

The coach pointed out that the current selection process heavily favors foreign-based Nigerian players, many of whom did not grow up in Nigeria and lack the cultural and competitive mentality of locally nurtured players.

“It has to do with the selection problem, because in every competition, a coach must have to do good selection. With that sentiment, you have to go for the best. One of the issues we are getting in terms of selection is our inability to recruit our home base, our home base players who are hungry to play, who are hungry to make names for themselves,” Whyte stated.

He further elaborated on the disparity between local and foreign-based players.

“Because by the time you look at what is happening, most of the players they call are all foreign-based Nigerians.

“If I say foreign-based Nigerians, most of them are not brought up in Nigeria. So that culture, that mentality of we Nigerians are not in them.”

Michelle Alozie beats her marker during the 2024 Olympic Games Qualifying match between Nigeria and Ethiopia in Abuja. Photo | X (NGSuper_Falcons)

Whyte believes that a blend of home-based and foreign-based players, under capable coaching, can lead to better performances from the Nigerian national team.