There is no sanity in promoting 8 teams to NPFL – Golbe

Congrats on your election into the Players’ Union executive. What are your roles as an executive member?

First of all, I will like to appreciate God for the privilege and opportunity to be the second vice chairman of the Players Union. I am also representing active players in the league since I am still active. Most of the positions are occupied by the ex-players in the union. When you are in position like this you must have an expectation on what you want to achieve. Though the association has been here for some time, it is still a baby and coming up.

We will make sure we defend and protect the integrity of our players because most of the active players don’t know their rights and maybe what they intend to achieve at the end of the day. With orientation, sensitization, that will make them know their rights on issues of contract.

What are the goals of the Players Union and whose interests will it represent?

This union is for both the foreign and local players but for now we are focused on the local players. Foreign players most probably have their own policies where they are but we are also protecting them because one day they will retire since football goes with age. When they retire, they must fix themselves somewhere either as a coach or in teams’ board.

The season is off now, what are the aspirations for the upcoming season?

The goals for upcoming season and you know its abridged league which is difficult. Definitely we will prepare as the coaches and players are going to do their best to see that at the end of the day we achieve something for ourselves. Football is game we must take one game at a time. You can’t dream to be a champion, you must work hard to achieve your set goals.

Share your thoughts on the LMC and NNL stand on the promotion of 8 teams.

We are Nigerians and anything can come up at any time. The leaders will do what is best for the league. The League Management Company officials are trying their best to see the league come to a certain standard. I can’t say yes or not the promotion of 8 teams but the LMC knows what is best.

The bringing of 8 teams means that a lot of teams will be relegated, and there is no sanity in that. The NPFL players are match rusty. As a professional you must train and do your job in accordance to what you are expected to achieve at the end of the day. As a player we must train and not relax because the league has been suspended.

What is your take on the local players, who have been neglected by Gernot Rohr for the Super Eagles?

I disagree with Gernot Rohr that NPFL players are not good for the Super Eagles. For every player in Europe, is an opportunity as we can’t compare their leagues with ours. Most of them in Europe started from the Nigerian league. Any one picked from the NPFL will represent the league well in the Super Eagles. The problem is that the right people are not chosen. We have everything that it takes to represent this country. We have quality players who when given the opportunity will do well in Europe.