Icon4s:

The most successful grassroots youths system in d world.

TheGoodJoe:
Between 2007-2008, he played for FSA Austria Wein, the U19 team of Austria Wein and he later moved to the reserve team of Austria Wein. That is not academy football.

First of all, I do not see us abandoning our grassroot football in search of foreign talents. The open camps and academy scouting has produced massive results from the time of Coach Yemi Tella, to Coach John Obuh, to Coach Manu Garba to Coach Amunike.

I do not see them abandoning a winning system.

The foreign talents can meet up in the U20

forgiveness:
Meet Roma’s Umar Sadiq – Nigeria’s next Nwankwo Kanu


Sadiq Umar scoring his first Serie A goal for Roma against Genoa
Roma have won the Seria A three times in their history, the last one in the 2000-01 season and ended the 2014-2015 season behind champions Juventus.

This season, the Italian giants are counting on the quality of stars like Daniele De Rossi, Edin Dzeko, Mohamed Salah, Gervinho and the ageless Francesco Totti to push their hunt for a first league title in 15 years and progress to the final stages of the Champions League.
In their rank also is a young Nigerian already tipped for greatness.

Farmed out by Abuja Football College just over a year and a half ago, Umar began his European sojourn at Spezia Calcio, a club that plays in the Serie B.
The Kaduna-born Sadiq, whose father played for the famous DIC Bees of Kaduna, wasted little time in settling down in Italy and was soon the talk of town with his silky touches and finishing abilities.

The gangling 1.92m teenager, whose physique and style reminds one of Nwankwo Kanu, scored a record-breaking 26 goals in 27 games in the Italian youth league, generating interests from all of Italy’s biggest clubs.

But it was AS Roma who won the race for his signatures, snapping him up first on a year-long loan deal with the option to commit him to a permanent contract worth about 1.7 million Euros should the lad impressed.

And impressed he did. After only 13 games, the youngster had banged in 8 goals for the youth team and assisted a few more, including three goals in four UEFA Youth League games with two assists. Roma manager Rudi Garcia was so amazed by the 18 year-old’s quality that he quickly promoted him to the first team.

His Serie A debut followed soon after. The 18-year-old came on for striker Juan Iturbe in the 89th minute as AS Roma were held to a 2-2 away draw at Bologna in a highly entertaining game.

Roma’s struggles have been well documented this campaign after starting the league season ever so well but have gradually slipped out of the title race and the Champions League places.

And on Sunday at home to Genoa, when Rudi Garcia needed a saviour after watching his side play the last 15 minutes with ten men, he turned to his Nigerian goal-machine.

Umar Sadiq duly obliged and headed in his first ever Serie A goal within minutes of being introduced as an 82nd minute substitute. The strike rubber-stamped a 2-0 victory for Roma, ending a seven-match winless streak in all competitions and easing pressure on their embattled manager.

That goal, coming in just his third senior appearance all from the bench, may just be the beginning of another legend in the ilk of retired former CAF Footballer of the Year, Nwankwo Kanu.

A hugely talented Nigerian youngster is destined for greatness. He is not Kelechi Iheanacho or Victor Osimhen.

I give you Umar Sadiq.

http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/2/808335454?-21310:8643:t

enomakos:
why change a successful system?just because of alaba?

enomakos:
the next nwankwo kanu? There is only one kanu bros,no one can be like him

BascoVanVeli:


Winning U-17 should not be our definition of success. How about how the boys fare after. Where are they now all the grassroots u have pulled, how much are they making? Do they even have careers? Not one of those players are even close to Alaba right now. Let us just admit we missed a once in a lifetime opportunity, there is no justification for telling a boy that he can't play for his country, i mean who are we to do such a thing to a child.

forgiveness:


Born in Vienna, Alaba began his career with SV Aspern, his local club in Aspern, in the 22nd district, Donaustadt, before joining the youth setup of FK Austria Wien at age 10. He rose through the ranks quickly, and in April 2008, he was named on the first-team substitutes' bench for a Bundesliga match.[7] He also played five times for Austria Wien's reserve team,[8] before leaving in summer 2008 to join German Bundesliga side Bayern Munich.[9]

Did the @bolded shows that Alaba was in the FK Austria wien first team or FK Austria wien Academy in 2007 prior to the 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup held in South Korea from 13th August - 9th September 2007?

Icon4s:


All those because he is in Bayern.What has he won for/with his adopted Austria?

BTW u are chopping at 10:49 pm. Not good for ur health bro.

joseph1013:
I love this analysis and I thought to share


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svh5lMUfotc

BascoVanVeli:


Winning U-17 should not be our definition of success. How about how the boys fare after. Where are they now all the grassroots u have pulled, how much are they making? Do they even have careers? Not one of those players are even close to Alaba right now. Let us just admit we missed a once in a lifetime opportunity, there is no justification for telling a boy that he can't play for his country, i mean who are we to do such a thing to a child.

TheGoodJoe post=41
269170:


Sub bench of the first team in 2008. Before then, he played in the U19 team and then the reserve team before april 2008 he joined the main team. Please, U19 and reserve team football is not academy football.

forgiveness:


You are right on point. While many countries are plotting on how to win the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy, they are still celebrating U17 junior world Cup trophies.

Icon4s:


Bros, winning Five U17 titles is a huge success. That implies success at talents discovery at U17 level.

However, career progression is another subject matter where Nigeria has repeatedly done poorly. This is one major reason why most of the talents discovered by our grass roots programme dnt end up playing at the Senior level. But this is a problem not peculiar to Nigeria as most products of the U17s struggle to find their way into the national team. The U20 to me is where future Senior players begin to emerge. Nigeria needs to work on how to achieve Success at the U20 level. I believe we dnt usually select the best crop at that level. Coaches tend to keep faith with most of the previous U17 players thereby shutting out other quality players that are eligible. Take for eg Oghenekaro Etebo(20yrs), Junior Ajayi(19yrs) and Azubuike Okechukwu(18yrs) were all eligible for the last U20 but were they invited? U will agree with me that Junior Ajayi is better than Awoniyi, Azubuike Okechukwu is better than Ifeanyi Mathew and I can Say Oghenekaro Etebo is better than most of the AM we paraded at that U20.

I am not saying we should nit give the previous U17 a chance at U20. My point is the camp should be thrown open for every eligible player.
It will interest you to know that no country has ever won the U17 and 2 yrs later won the U20. The problem has always been that in most cases the U17 winning coach is promoted to U20 and he would want to keep faith with his boys (usually for Clubs transfer gains).

Look at Nigeria's record for the U20s 2 years after we win the U17:

U17 1985: Winners; U20 1987: Group exit
U17 1993: Winners; U20 1993: Finished 3rd at AYC bt pulled out by late Gen Sani Abacha.
U17 2007: Winners; U20 2009: 2nd Round exit
U17 2013: Winner; U20 2015; 2nd Round exit.

Some of the major problems:
1. some of our players dnt naturally progress well from U17 to U20
2. Our U20 coaches still keep faith even with those players that were affected by pt1 above
3. The U20 is 3 steps ahead of the U17, If u move only players form U17 to U20 u end up having an U19 team thereby short-changing ur team of quality 20 yrs old professional players.
4. Most European teen agers play in their country after the U17s. Many play in same clubs where they are groomed together with same Ideology and philosophy and they easily form a formidable team at U19 or U20. U invite Nigerian U20 Players to camp and u have a group of players playing in different leagues with different ideologies, struggling to achieve team work.
5. The poor quality of the local league: This is mostly responsible for pt 4 above. Some of the U17 boys hu excel get European contracts in different clubs in Europe and are willing to leave bc the league back home is poor. Meanwhile their counterparts that could nt secure foreign contracts may end up with some NPFL Teams that dnt care abt youth development programmes. They dnt have U18, U19, or U21 teams as they have in Europe. All they do is at best train with the senior boys and keep them on the bench on match days.

If some of these trends dnt change Nigeria will keep struggling at U20 Level.
People hu followed the 2015 U20 thread would recall how I was conservative abt the performance of that team as we were abt to repeat what we did after we won the U17 in 1985. I made reference to the Chile 87 team. Jst that they went one step further than the Chile 87 boys. We started Chile 87 with a game against Brazil also of which we lost 4-0 and that game kept flashing back in my memory ahead of the 2015 U20 game against Brazil that we lost 4-2.

Now, I have high hopes for the 2017 U20. I think we are likely going to repeat what we did in 1989 when (IMHO) we raised the best U20 set ever. How did that work. Nigeria won U17 in 1985 and finished 2nd at U17 in 87. By 1989 some of the 1985 Eaglets were fully U20 and were combined with the 1987 Eaglets. Some other players too were brought in from the Nigerian league and that team was a delight to watch.

For 2017, some players from the 2013 U17 would be eligible: Taiwo Awoniyi, Musa Yahaya, Chigozie Obasi, Chidera Ezeh, Zaharadeen Bello, Habib Makajuola, Ifeanyi Mathew. A combination with the 2015 U17 will produce a highly prolific team especially in the attack. Awoniyi-Osimhen combination would be key. Having Chukwueze, Yahaya, and Chidera Ezeh as AM options will also be amazing. Ifeanyi Mathew and Azubuike Okechukwu are also eligible as midfield options in addition to the mercurial Kelechi Nwakali. A host of other players in Europe and in the Nigerian league that are eligible may also be invited.

kobonaire:
[size=7pt][/size]Dude, this your footy database, it's like you have a PhD in footballogy ...

BlackAlbino6:
[b][size=14pt]
AF Nigeria 2015 U23 Africa Cup of Nations Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg promise Osimhen first-team football
[/size]

Osimhen (right) in U17 World Cup final

by Samm Audu
German Bundesliga Wolfsburg have promised U17 World Cup star Victor Osimhen first-team football when he clocks 18.
The record-breaking Osimhen has visited Wolfsburg and a verbal agreement has been agreed between the German club and his representatives and he is expected to sign a professional contract next year December, when he will be 18.

"One thing that was crucial in our discussions with Wolfsburg is that he will be part of the first-team squad as soon as he turns 18. This is very key to his development,” said one of his representatives, Ariyo Igbayilola.

Wolfsburg and English Premier League outfit Arsenal are in a straight fight for the signature of the U17 World Cup sensation with one of the youngster’s handlers disclosing it is now “90% certain” the lad will be headed for Germany.

Osimhen and his team are due back in Nigeria from Germany on Tuesday.

The young striker is vying for the CAF Youth Player of the Year along with Eaglets skipper Kelechi Nwakali, who was voted the MVP of the 2015 U17 World Cup.
The awards ceremony will be staged on January 7 in Abuja.
africanfootball.com/news/595839/Wolfsburg-promise-Osimhen-first-team-football
[/b]

joseph1013:
Awww...forgiveness has been banned. Welcome to the club.

Icon4s:


Oga we know this guy already. We talked abt him on the FIFA U20, Korea 2017 thread. We mentioned it their that he could b part of d next U20.

Remember the argument is on fielding mostly grass root players at U17. At U20 the NFF and coaches pick players from all round d world. That has been d tradition.

Icon4s:


I dnt think so.I know his type. Although I respect his enthusiasm to always carry on with his arguments irrespective of how many pple are on his side, bt I think he needs to reorientate his thinking.

forgiveness:


As you rightly said, he was on the sub bench of the first team in 2008 just once. Whereas, the 2007 U17 wasn't in 2008.

So, Alaba was still in the FK Austria Wien Academy in 2007. Thanks

Below proves that FK Austria wien U18 is Academy. Besides he played only 5 times for the reserve in 2008

INFO

INFO
CAMP
U7-U14
U15-U18
TERMINE
PROBETRAINING
TEAM
MAIL
Willkommen auf der Informationsseite der Akademie des FK Austria Wien!

Das Nachwuchsprogramm des FK Austria Wien setzt sich aus der Austria Junior Football Academy für U7 bis U14-Mannschaften und der Premium Football Academy für U15 bis U18-Mannschaften zusammen.

Trainings finden auf den Trainingsplätzen der Generali-Arena (Horrplatz 1, 1100 Wien) und in der Akademie des FK Austria Wien (Laaerbergstraße 143, 1100 Wien) statt

http://www.fk-austria.at/de/teams/akademie/info/

BlackAlbino6:
[b][size=14pt]
Siasia: Musa, Mikel not going to Rio
[/size]

Nigeria Under-23 head coach Samson Siasia says he does not plan to enlist the services of either Ahmed Musa or John Obi Mikel at next year's Olympic Games.

Nigria qualified for the showcase in Brazil in 2016 after winning the U23 African Cup of Nations in Senegal earlier this month.

And while football at the Olympics is played at U23 level, each country is allowd to have three players over the age of 23 in their squad.

But according to Siasia, he won't be looking to draft in two of Nigeria's most famous senior footballers, Super Eagles captain and CSKA Moscow striker Ahmed Musa and Chelsea’s midfield hard-man, Mikel.

"I wouldn't have done that," Siasia was quoted as saying byPM News Nigeria.

"The time has not come for picking overage players for the Olympics and there is no need and no plan to do that now."

Siasia has, however, not yet decided which, if any, overage players he will take to the Olympic Games in August next year.

"When the time comes, I will let the world know who among the overage players are going with us to the Olympics and who can fit into our program," he said.
www.football411.com/story/0,22162,14322_110713,00.html
[/b]

TheGoodJoe:



[b]Stop writing this thing. It is ridiculous. I am being honest. Do you know who Kanu was in the game. It is like saying because Carrick raked more medals than Kanu, Carrick is a better player than Kanu.

There was a match we played in Liberation stadium Port Harcourt. Kanu was not fit and did not start the game. He came in as a sub, ten minutes to go and won the man of the match, scoring two goals.

After the match, fans flooded the pitch trying to get a closer view and touch their hero.

Men, go and watch games. Watch games like Nigeria vs Mexico in Atalanta '96. Celestine Babayaro was so good, the coach doubled two players on the wings to take out Babayaro but they couldn't. Babayaro played with skill and class.

Men club medals does not show everything. Look at Evans medals, compared to Yobo. Does that mean John Evans having more medals than Yobo makes him a better player?

I will take Lizarazu of France over Alaba.

Go and watch wing backs of the past and see class. Someone like Cafu and Zambrotta.

Guardiola is playing a good system and the team is excelling. It does not make Alaba a better player than Zabaletta. Na wa.[/b]

TheGoodJoe:


Why are you like this? Did I say U18 is not academy? I said U19 is not academy. So why are you talking like this? 2007/2008 Alaba played for Austria Wein U19 and the reserve team of Austria Wein. That is not academy football.

So what does showing me U18 is academy football have to do with what I wrote.

BlackAlbino6:
[b][size=14pt]
AF Nigeria 2015 U23 Africa Cup of Nations Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg promise Osimhen first-team football
[/size]

Osimhen (right) in U17 World Cup final

by Samm Audu
German Bundesliga Wolfsburg have promised U17 World Cup star Victor Osimhen first-team football when he clocks 18.
The record-breaking Osimhen has visited Wolfsburg and a verbal agreement has been agreed between the German club and his representatives and he is expected to sign a professional contract next year December, when he will be 18.

"One thing that was crucial in our discussions with Wolfsburg is that he will be part of the first-team squad as soon as he turns 18. This is very key to his development,” said one of his representatives, Ariyo Igbayilola.

Wolfsburg and English Premier League outfit Arsenal are in a straight fight for the signature of the U17 World Cup sensation with one of the youngster’s handlers disclosing it is now “90% certain” the lad will be headed for Germany.

Osimhen and his team are due back in Nigeria from Germany on Tuesday.

The young striker is vying for the CAF Youth Player of the Year along with Eaglets skipper Kelechi Nwakali, who was voted the MVP of the 2015 U17 World Cup.
The awards ceremony will be staged on January 7 in Abuja.
africanfootball.com/news/595839/Wolfsburg-promise-Osimhen-first-team-football
[/b]

forgiveness:


Bros, I know kanu very well and I have seen him play several times live at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos. There was a time he was pummeled with pure water after losing to Togo National team prior to the Olympics. I was there. So, I know what I am talking.

How come Celestine Babayaro was never nominated for UEFA team of the year?

How come as good as he was, he was never nominated for FIFA Ballon d'or?

How come he was unable to make ESM team of the year?

Who can play regularly for Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, if not the best?

Bros, Alaba has won medals before Pep came to Bayern Munich.

forgiveness:


Bros, I know kanu very well and I have seen him play several times live at the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos. There was a time he was pummeled with pure water after losing to Togo National team prior to the Olympics. I was there. So, I know what I am talking.

How come Celestine Babayaro was never nominated for UEFA team of the year?

How come as good as he was, he was never nominated for FIFA Ballon d'or?

How come he was unable to make ESM team of the year?

Who can play regularly for Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, if not the best?

Bros, Alaba has won medals before Pep came to Bayern Munich.

TheGoodJoe:


From your perspective, Carrick is a better player than Recoba.

You will not answer. Is John Evans a better defender than Yobo?

Carrick has more club football medals than Maradona. So from your perspective, Carrick is a better player in club football than Maradona.