In the years that followed, with success at the 1994 African Nations Cup in Tunisia and a historic win at the 1996 Olympic Games football tournament in Atlanta, the optimism around the immediate future of Nigerian football was validated. Disappointingly however, the successes enjoyed between 1993 and 1996 were not replicated and rather than witness a success boom, Nigerian football experienced lean years.
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| Yemi Idowu's Nath Boys team celebrating after the presentation of the 2015/2016 Metro league Trophy |
Okocha can claim to have had a successful, long-lasting senior career which begs the question: what was the excitement about?
In the past Nigerian youth football has been plagued by age falsification scandals which provided a clear reason for the lack of longevity for said youth players but these days, given improved age tracking technology, these scandals have inevitably reduced.
While age scandals may have abated, there must also be a shift in general mentality with regard to age grade teams. Too often, we forget that for youth teams, the emphasis should be on development rather than trophies. This is fundamentally what sets Nath Boys apart from the multitude of youth teams in the country.
Yemi Idowu's Nath Boys Football Club recently won the 2015/2016 Metro Pro League title having won Remo Stars 3-1 on the season’s final day. This is to add to their Lagos Junior League Titles in 2012 and 2013 making a total of 3 major titles in their 5 years of competitive football at the Junior level since their formation in 2010.
Already this team has produced some young stars who have graced the World Stage at both U17 and U20 levels for Nigeria. Players such as Jide Idowu the midfield maestro of the 2013 U17 World Cup Winning Side and Wilfred Ndidi the captain of the U20 Eaglets team are all products of Nath Boys Football Club.
Ever since the team was set up by Entrepreneur and Sports Philanthropist Mr. Yemi Idowu in 2010, they have consistently insisted on nurturing young players and developing them for future success. This has been particularly difficult as most Youth teams are in the habit of hiring machinery and age cheats for age grade soccer competitions.
The recent successes of Nath Boys Football Club validates the notion that focusing on development rather than trophies for youth teams can potentially produce greater benefits and success if sustained.
As always, Nigerian football fans are hopeful about a few youth prospects. Players like Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi from the successful 2013 youth team have earned moves to Liverpool, Manchester City and Genk respectively. There might not be a large-scale excitement as witnessed in 1993, but many will be quietly optimistic that the new bright prospects of Nigerian football will find their way to the top of the game. Another golden generation might emerge but for now, these three will do. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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