Super Eagles Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr says it’s difficult for players that plies their trade in Nigeria Professional Football League to be constantly invited into the Super Eagles because of so many factors affecting the league itself.
Rohr invited four home-based players for the Super Eagles dead rubber AFCON qualifier with Pirates of Seychelles and international friendly match with Pharaohs of Egypt respectively.
While speaking on why the home-based players has been overlooked for most of Super Eagles competition games, The Franco-German tactician said the lack of structures and organizations in the league is responsible.
He added that the players lack exposure to quality training and match conditions.
“I can tell you that it is not easy for the local players when you see the conditions they have to play. Playing on old astro-turf, not able to play for up to six months because the league is on break, how will they be fit and be able to compete with the players from Europe, who have the best competitions for training, playing, organization, health and so on.
“So it is not easy for the local players, but we have four in the team now because I invited two from the Under-20, the captain and the best defender. But each time we invite somebody, a few weeks later he is in Europe. So he is no more a local player.
Rohr also defended himself against the suggestion that he’s not doing enough to help the home-based players get into the Eagles main team.
“Since I’m here two years and a half, I have invited more than 22 local players and most of them are now abroad. So every time we start again to invite them, everybody wants to come because it is the way to go to Europe to make money which is normal and they want to be professional.
“There are no better infrastructures here. Me and my assistant, Coach Imama Amapakabo have seen that so many clubs lack so many things: no infrastructure, the training condition, organization, transport of teams in long distances, the organization of the league, not playing for six months, it’s very difficult for the local players,”
