Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Idah Peterside, has warned the handlers of the U-20 team to keep the Flying Eagles away from football agents. He said this due to the Flying Eagles’ victory in round 16 of the U-20 world cup tournament, as Nigeria defeated Argentina 2-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals in the tournament.
According to him, the players should be shielded from football agents, as there are already reports that some notable clubs are already bidding for the players, which could be a distraction to them at this stage.
He further said that the players should be advised to keep their focus on the team, and on the country, everything will fall in place after the competition, but for now, they need to be kept away from agents so as not to be distracted.
“I will tell them to play because at this age they want to play, they want to be seen. Already we are hearing information that our central defender wants to be signed by Bayern Munich, and our midfielder wants to be signed by Anderlecht; we don’t need that kind of distraction.
“Keep away the agents from these players and tell them to play for your country, play as a team, have team cohesion first then later the legacies of your performance will show,” Peterside said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday
The Flying Eagles are to face South Korea on Sunday, for a place at the semi finals, he however warned them not to underrate South Korea, as the National team made that mistake in the 2010 world cup and it turned out bad.
Peterside also adviced that sponsors with monetary promises should be kept away from the players, as the players need much time with their coach than with any big man filling their heads with monetary promises.
