As I watched the all-German UEFA Champions League final; I had this strange feeling running through me. I wanted desperately for BVB Dortmund to win because I had become a big fan of Jurgen Klopp and his lovely team. But in contrast, I also wanted Arjen Robben to score a goal and redeem himself from the criticism that would follow if FC Bayern Munchen goes on to lose the finals. Robben is a player that had suffered so much criticism after losing the 2010 world cup finals with the Netherlands and the 2012 UEFA Champions league finals against Chelsea FC.
However, prior to this season, FC Barcelona had held the football world spell bound with their brand of football called the “Tiki-Taka”. It was a brand of football built solidly on possession as interpreted by the duo of Andreas Iniesta (to me the best player in the world for the past four years) along with Xavi Hernández and executed by the alien Messi Lionel. When the draws for the knock out stages was made; bookmakers thought it would either be an El-Classico final or the English could have a say on who becomes champion. The football world had not envisaged that a German football final was possible. They were all wrong; German football had its success coming.
All of a sudden, the world was beginning to take notice that Germany was on the threshold of something special; a new era of dominance in world football. But just over a decade ago; German football was in turmoil and needed desperately a different approach after crashing out against Croatia in the quarter finals in France 98 and failing to make the group stages in Euro 2000. The Germans devised a plan that has now successfully delivered the first ever all-German UEFA Champions league finals.
THE PLAN
With the failure of the Die Mannschaft to progress at France 98 and Euro 2000, The German FA looked at why their team failed and believed there was not enough young players with the necessary quality to make the German national team great. A new approach to youth development was agreed upon. They invested in youth development; they implemented guidelines to the German teams that there must be more work put in to developing youth, that Germany must produce better quality players. 121 national talent centres for children from 0 – 17 years were established with two coaches each responsible for grooming them. The clubs in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 were mandated to establish football academies. There was also huge investment in the training of coaches who would work at the grassroots.
THE RESULT
Apart from the fact that we had just witnessed the first ever all-German final in the UEFA Champions league. You would all agree with me that the Die Mannschaft had made serious progress since 2009, playing with youthful players and displaying a brand of football that is pleasing and attractive football to watch.
A BLUEPRINT FOR NIGERIA TO COPY
Soccer enjoys mad followership in Nigeria; which means whenever the Super Eagles take to the pitch, the whole country comes to a standstill. Nigeria prides itself as the giant of African football, a position that is widely debated among followers of the game around the continent; most of who agree that the country can do more if it turns it potential into greatness on the pitch.
Just like Germany way back in 1999 – 2001, Nigeria must come to terms with the fact that there are not enough talent coming through the national teams (Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles, Super Eagles), and therefore a different approach to youth development must be designed and implemented with the realities of Nigerian football properly taken into consideration.
More so, for a country with a population of over 160 million inhabitants; majority of who are young people, it is expected that the national teams should be able to fulfil its long held potential and dominate African football and the world at large.
The authorities running football in Nigeria must come up with a deliberate programme that would provide world class training to coaches who would work with young footballers at the grassroots and various academies. Huge investment is also expected on soccer academies all over the country. Those who administer these game must also be provided with appropriate training and education to run the game in the must professional manner.
In addition, the National Professional Football League (NPFL) must be reformed to reflect the realities of world football. Football clubs must be run professionally with the welfare of players and the security of fans as topmost priority.
Nigeria has too much potential to be a mediocre footballing nation. It is a country that should be among the best in world football. Its football should be providing opportunities for its young population to build careers. But until a new approach to youth development is adopted, Nigeria would remain a giant with huge potential. Germany has done it, Nigeria can do it.
Written by
M. DeYa
He is a soccer writer.
Blogs at www.myopinion.com.ng and tweets @red_deya
