Golden Eaglets and The Lagos Junior League

There is a popular saying that “A successful/Rich man has many relatives”. In essence everyone wants to be associated with a successful person or brand.

The Golden Eaglets success can be directly attributed to a competent technical crew who took time to scout and train these talented lads. The NSC and NFF are also to be praised for their role in the provision of necessary logistics. Some notable individuals like the Cross Rivers state Governor should be equally commended.

The formation of a player is a product of training and attention which starts and takes place far from the National team set-up or mammoth training camps in Qatar; It starts in the in the hood on the streets or recently in organised setup of the Lagos Junior League.

Earlier in the year NFF President Aminu Maigari was in Lagos to Chair the 2012/2013 Season award ceremony of the Lagos Junior League or LJL as it is popularly called where he had the opportunity of shaking some players little did he know that some months down the line he will be shaking them once again albeit in the colours of the Golden Eaglets National Team. The LJL is an U-20 League that was setup to harness the abundant grassroot talents in Lagos State now it has attracted talents from outside the state. The LJL provided an avenue for these young prodigies to hone and develop their talents in a competitive and open environment at no cost to them.

Taiwo Awoniyi, Jide Idowu and Dele Alampasu all star in Dubia developed and flourished in the Lagos Junior League. Others like Mustapha Abdullahi, Innocent Onobun, Godwin Odibo, Wilifred Ndidi were all at one time or the other part of the Golden Eaglets in the course of their foray to the World Cup in Dubai.

Even the Flying Eagles is not immune to the LJL fever.Numerous Academies either rightfully or otherwise are jostling for the glory of owning/representing the amazing players in the Eaglets but there is only one place in Nigeria where you can find over 1,700 young boys playing football in its purest form; The Lagos Junior League.