Coach Salihu explains reasons for low fans turnout in stadium during league matches

Coach Salihu explains reasons for low fans turnout in stadium during league matches

Kada Warriors coach, Usman Yinka Salihu has given reasons for low turnout of fans in the stadium during league matches.

Speaking after his team training session on Thursday, he compared the players of the 70s,80s, and 90s to the present generation of players

"The players in the 70s,80s and 90s played for the passion for the game, it made it easy for them to have these the entertainment mentality and the ability to show case their talent. So people came to the stadium or pitch to watch players exhibit them their talents but nowadays most players come into football because of the money there is in football.

"Everybody come into football because he or she wants to make money, to buy a car, buy houses and to live live large."

He also said players of 70s, 80s and 90s have longer live span playing than that of the new generation of players and it is because of passion, stressing that the present day players are playing for the incentives in football.

"With this kind of situation, the stadium will definitely not be filled. Now there are lesser talents to watch. In Nigeria league, you will watch a game of 90 minutes and probably not have that hahaha moment but in those days, if you live in Kaduna environs around Costain, Calabar or Marafa you can hear the roar but now, even the national team will play in Kaduna at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium and you will not hear the roar in the stadium environs.

"I believe all these attribute to the decline of followership of football or crowd in the stadium.

The former ABS of Ilorin coach also talked about players staying longer in clubs in the 70s, 80s and 90s. He said it's because of the passion, players were contented with what they are having.

"Now players move because of the money, especially with the unholy practice of paper money. They leave every season to get money for their clearance called paper money."

He attributed lack of discipline to the absence of passion to the game in the new generation of players which as brought about decline in talent and good football that can attract fans to stadium.

"If you have passion, you will live by the rules or live to maintain the standard you have or standard expected of you. But because it about the money not passion. I am not talking about only moral or behavioural discipline. Even in the field, they don't have tactical discipline or technical discipline, that is why they don't progress rapidly.

On the paper money, he advised Nigeria to return to the rule book on transfer. The implementation on contract, third party ownership, number of players that should be on loan in a season with a club etc.

"This will go a long way in checking players movement and help in squad management. The NFF and league board have a lot to do on these."