'I Feel Some People Want To Do Business With Home-Based Players' - Rohr Explains Why He Snubs NPFL

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has come under fire from some quarters, even the Nigeria Football Federation, for his decision not to invite home-based players to the national team.

Explaining why the stars in the Nigeria Professional Football League are not considered for call-ups, the former Bayern Munich defender made it crystal clear that the infrastructure needed for the development of these players are not up to scratch and some individuals only recommend players with the intention of selling them abroad.

''Already I have invited at least twenty players from the local league,'' Rohr said.

''Some of them are now in Austria, Switzerland, some other countries, so it's good for them but sometimes I have the feeling people want to do business with the invitation of local players, so they can sell better to European clubs.

''We are only watching for the quality of the players. If there is no local league, you cannot invite players who are not playing, it is not serious.

''There is lack of infrastructure in the local league, this is the first step they have to correct and better conditions to play football for local players.''

In the Super Eagles last two international matches, goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa was the only local based player that  got playing time, only because Elche's Francis Uzoho was sidelined by injury.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel