Nigerian league not entertaining to watch, says Akpoborie

Jonathan Akpoborie, former Super Eagles forward, says the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is not entertaining and properly organised.

In a chat with TheCable, Akpoborie, who played his entire senior football career in Germany for 12 years, said the South African league is far better organised than the NPFL despite not having the bundle of talents bestowed on Nigeria.

According to the ex-Hansa Rostock striker, the level of organisation of the NPFL matches does not encourage viewers to want to watch because it is not entertaining.

“But their (South Africa) league is well organised and they play well organised football. We don’t in Nigeria,” Akpoborie told TheCable.

“We will talk and talk about our league. What is in our league today? You are forcing people to come and watch the Nigerian league.

“What is there in the Nigerian league to come and watch? Is it entertaining? It is not!

“I have seen football being played in Nigeria and I have seen the one played in South Africa. The
South Africans are not as talented as our Nigerians.”

Akpoborie, who won the first edition of the FIFA U-16 Kodak World championship in 1985 for the nation, also criticised the coaching system of the Nigerian national and local teams.

“We don’t have the coaches. Some people tell you that our coaches are good enough but they are not good enough,” the 52-year-old added.

“Let’s speak the truth. We have some, they are talented but today in football just as talent is not good enough for you to be a player, talent alone is not good enough for you to be a coach.

“There are so many things involved in coaching and lots of our coaches don’t have it. They don’t. The have to go and learn and it’s not as if they cannot. They should sponsor themselves to go and learn.

“After learning, they should always go for yearly refresher courses. Once you pass your coaching course and have your license, they will keep updating you on new trends in coaching. It is not one time thing.”

The former VfL Wolfsburg player netted 4 times for the Super Eagles in 13 appearances.