BY SAB OSUJI

Amidst the persistent neglect of Nigeria referees by CAF and FIFA for top continental and global tournaments ostensibly on account of poor performance, Austin Akpehe, a former Stationery Stores player has further hit out at the Nigeria men of whistle, accusing them of playing a leading role in bringing down football development in the country, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

Referees in Nigeria have come under severe criticisms of recent and suffered image battering following what football freaks see as poor officiating during domestic games.

This may have led to their continued neglect by CAF and FIFA during Nations Cup tournaments such as the one currently holding in Ivory Coast where no single Nigerian referee is taking part as well as during World Cup finals.

Now Akpehe has further rubbed mud on the faces of the football arbiters by alleging that 'they contributed in bringing down development of football in Nigeria'.

Akpehe enjoyed a glamorous career at Stationery Stores, otherwise tagged 'Flaming Flamingoes'; Niger Dock, Ashanti Kotoko of Ghana, Stade Abidjan and a host of other clubs in France and Germany before calling time on his illustrious career.

Akpehe spoke during a Wakawaka Sports Extra WhatsApp platform 'Hot Seat'.

Akpehe reckons that private individuals who want to invest in the league get discouraged due to poor  refereeing of matches, adding that the poor state of football in the country is not just on its administrators but the country at large through endemic corrupt practices. 

"Our referees in Nigeria have also contributed largely in bringing down the development of the sport", Okpehe said. 

"What made me to go into academy football instead of having a football club to play in the league is because of refereeing in Nigeria. 

"It seems if you want to own a football club in Nigeria and playing in the league to get to the top, you must always get to work with the referees to be successful in that aspect. They have a very large role and I I'm not alone because a lot of people that want to develop football in the country but are discouraged by the refereeing malaise.

"The failure of football is not just among the administrators, it’s all of us that are involved. It's a collective colossal damage because the country has been down in that way. Corruption has also contributed and has kept us where we are today in football."

Akpehe is the founder of Galaxy Sports Development China and Galaxy Sports Academy Nigeria. He further stressed that grassroot football has yielded positive results in the country. 

"Players that have never tasted professional football in Nigeria that started practicing professional system long ago, have been moving in droves directly abroad and playing in European teams and making it big. I have a big thumbs up for that. 

"The grassroot football in Nigeria is actually yielding positive results. The world is enjoying what we are doing in Nigeria when you talk about grassroot football.

"It is not an easy one but you can only advise just like other stakeholders are being a part not just saying that football in Nigeria is not good. I give Nigeria thumbs up when you talk about grassroot football. What we have seen globally, the players that have come out from the African continent, Nigeria specifically are just too many." 

He called for more collaborative efforts by all stakeholders in ensuring that the game is developed, especially the Nigeria Football Federation through the establishment of a centralised academy. 

"To improve on it, definitely I want to say that currently what the NFF and the NPFL are doing is really good. I am closely following the Nigeria leagues. The game in Nigeria currently, the way it is structured is not in a way one can say yes.

"Let me go with the NFF President when it comes to football development and how things should be. At least, we should have a structured academy football, the federation can call its own. Then the coaches that are there can stay there so that they can develop a certain style of their own. It is the same way most of the European countries have also done. 

"We have a playing style but it is not defined. We are only known as skillful, strong, physical and very quick and fast but coming to say that Nigeria has a certain playing style, it is not there. It's a big work and the NFF should establish such an academy; the centralised talent development centre so that the project can spread round across Nigeria."

The UEFA Licensed Coach, Agent and Consultant, however did not rule out the possibility of serving the nation in any capacity while urging the Super Eagles to keep doing their best at the 2023 AFCON. 

"The Super Eagles are surprising us and I hope they keep doing that. There is hope. Stanley Nwabali is not yet there completely and we hope we won't have problems there. I give kudos to our defenders and the midfielders needs to push more. 

"When you are given an opportunity to serve, it is what one can say you hardly refuse. I am someone that doesn't look for rosy ground. I try to create opportunities. I went to China and did so much there. If the opportunity comes back home, why not to also help in other to give back but right now it's through this academy we are giving back."