Aiyenugba explains why the NPL have not produced a Super Eagles GK in recent years 

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba HAS explained why it is difficult for the Super Eagles coaches to identify a top goalkeeper from the Nigeria Premier League.

Aiyenugba represented Enyimba and Kwara United in the Nigerian top-flight before joining Bnei Yehuda in 2007.

During his time in Nigeria, the 39-year-old won the Nigeria Premier League title four times, the FA Cup once, and the CAF Champions League twice with Enyimba.

Speaking to allnigeriasoccer.com, Aiyenugba questioned the desire of local based goalkeepers to move abroad, stating that during his time in the league, the players were not in a haste to join foreign clubs.

"To produce a goalkeeper in a local league, I think, during our own time, nobody was rushing to go to Europe. We stick to Nigeria's league, we were patient," he said.

 
On the difficulty of identifying a goalkeeper for the national team from the NPL,Aiyenugba stressed that a goalkeeper needs to perform consistently before being considered to play for the national team.

"There's this thing that is going on, like seriously, the hyping of players is too much. You'll see they hype some players, some goalkeepers, and they're not up to the standard. it's affecting the national team.

 
"I could remember when they picked Vincent, it was a game in Abeokuta when Onigbinde came to watch his game and he saw him and he picked him and that was it," he remarked.

Aiyenugba continued: "The one thing the Nigeria team trainer or the goalkeeper trainer needs to do is to watch games, watch their consistency, the continuation because if you are not consistent in goalkeeping, you are not there yet.

"During our own time, we wanted to play for the country. It's not by the players using the media. Let them focus and improve on themselves.

"Let them do extra trainings. Many players I see now wait for the coach. I've seen players, once they finish training, maybe one or one and a half hours of training, they don't do extra for themselves.

Aiyenugba concluded by urging the local goalkeepers to intensify their efforts to be recognized and trusted with a place in the national team.

"So they need to do more. The home-based goalkeepers in the NPL needs to do more, strive more, push themselves and do extra because goalkeeping is not easy."

Adeyemi Adewale

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