Emetiole canvasses for Beach Soccer League

By Tosin Omojola - 25.04.2008

Chief coach of Nigeria’s beach football team, Kelechi Emetiole has called on the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to introduce a beach soccer league in order to develop the game in the country.

Caterpillar, as he is fondly called, told Tribunesports in Akure last weekend that the introduction of the beach soccer league would help in lifting the standard of the game in the country, stressing that Nigeria could emerge the world`s best in beach football if the league is introduced.

According to him, the fact that Nigeria played in the last two editions of the FIFA Beach football world cup and its emergence as Africa`s best in 2007 was a sign that the country can rule the world in the game.

He attributed the failure of the team to qualify for the 2008 edition of the world cup billed to take place in France to inadequate preparation ocassioned by the absence of some key players most of who were on duty for their clubs.

"Honestly, we went to South Africa without a full strength squad and that was largely due to the non-availability of our key players who prefer to concentrate on their club duties particularly those involved in continental assignment.

“That is the more reason why i will advise the soccer authorities to introduce the beach football league so that we can have players who will specifically engage in the game and when it is time for international competition we will have no problem getting players together for adequate preparation," the coach stated.

Speaking on his experience so far as the Beach Eagles sweat merchant, Emetiole, who is also the chief coach of premier league side, Heartland FC of Owerri, said it had been good handling the team but expressed unhappiness about the team`s inability to qualify for the world cup holding later in the year in France.