Former Golden Eaglets star, Emmanuel Sarki has made a starling revelation on how some coaches demanded £5,000 for him to be invited to the senior national team.
The Kaduna-born winger seemed destined to progress to the Super Eagles after an impressive performance with the Flying Eagles and the U-23 side, only to earn a call-up to the Haitian national team in 2014.
Sarki was a contemporary of John Obi Mikel in the Golden Eaglets team that featured in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by Finland.
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In an interview with the Athletic, Sarki, said that he was told to pay £5,000 in a bid to represent the Super Eagles.
“There were people demanding I pay £5,000 just to make sure Nigeria called me up.
“What? I have to pay to play football for my country? No way, I’m not doing that. But my grandfather had come from Haiti to Nigeria as a missionary, I had his birth certificate, and there was another Haitian in the team at Wisla, who called the Haitian Football Federation president and told him all about me.”
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COMMENTS
Exactly how we lost Sadiq. Sadiq should be encouraged to name those involved in this fraud. The issue of coach taking bribes from players needs to be addressed otherwise the country stands to lose. Just like the case of Salisu Yusuf, who was caught on camera receiving bribe. It is not just a norm in Nigeria, there are other African coaches that are involved in the shading deals. Kylian Mbappe’s father reportedly said about FA officials demanding money from him before they could allow his son to play for Cameroon that was before the World cup. Today, Mbappe is a top notch with the French national team.
This might even not be the coach self
But agents of Coach of course
Exactly the point. It is not about making starling revelation but naming those involved and backing it up with evidence so that they can be brought to book and then Africa can stop loosing talents to foreign countries.
This thing is real and even though names were mentioned who wants to prosecute who?
A country where corruption has become a glorious garment for us.
So you guys believe that ppl like amoju get to that post on plater competence abi?
Those who apoint them are the one demanding bribe from players.
So tell me even if names was mentioned who will prosecute them.
Names should be mentioned not necessarily for prosecution but to set the records straight and to satisfy the public conscience. It is a signal and warning that all shady deals won’t be swept under the carpet. A day of “shaming” will come up, even if the principal culprits have passed on, their families will be around to bear the odious deals of their forebears. Hence if you’re coming out of the closet with outrageous allegations, mention names, and details, otherwise, well, shut up. We don’t want unfounded fictional accusations — just muddying the waters.
People like you are part of the problem, you guys are so used to corrupt practices that when even ex-internationals comes out to tell the whole World about the under table dealings going on in our football World you call them unprintable names, Taiwo made some allegations not too long ago and he was greeted with insults and name calling, John Fashanu also told the same story recently and many people in this forum did the same thing to the well respected gentleman. It is okay to ask him to name names but it is unacceptable to shut him up.
Don’t mind them… I wonder what they need the names for… Sometimes, people pretend that they don’t know stuff like this happens often in Nigeria. Very bad… Even to get a federal job. Hmmmmmmmm my brother you will pay and bribe through your Life…
Exactly
It is only childish people that will advise this man to call names and endanger his life. If this revelation he has given is not enough then so be it. I have an ex golden eaglet player under my care I won’t call his name and he once spoke of the desire to represent another country if he does get a look in despite his decent performances. Amaju Pinnick is a fake person and he is all so proud that he doesn’t care about anyone except his Pocket and vacations. Nigeria will loose more foreign born players if Jesus doesn’t enter that NFF office.
*if he doesn’t get a look in
Anyone surprised by these allegations must have been living in dreamland; and anyone telling this young man to name names is not serious. Taiye Taiwo and Chinedu Obasi named names – what happened? Abeg make una go siddon one place.
All the journalists, administrators and ex-internationals asking for Rohr’s sack, clamoring for players from the league and asking for employment of a local coach – what do you guys think they’re doing that for? There is a nations cup and world cup coming up and they know that under a local coach or foreign coaches parachuted in at short notice, there is usually space for at least 5 “passengers”. Imagine camp allowance, match bonuses and share of FIFA qualification bonuses to be split 50/50 with five passengers at least.
Make una leave this matter, we all know what’s-up.
Only a foolish person would be writing a fullscap
sheet on this matter when there is a Salisu Yusuf as case study. Did you forget to submit your project work?
Sorry Mr Collins I’m just curious, is this the same old Collins here or you new? Because since yesterday have been observing your comment and they kinda different from the Collins I use to read from here. Clear me pls.
Aha.
Now this is what I call African poor leadership. We need strong institutions and not strong men, man. Corruption, poverty, civil strife just name it man. Despite these, Africa youth are laboring while losing an opportunity to unearth possibilities rather, lets run aground the brightest amongst us. Name the shame Mr. Sadiq. Shame, shame, shame.
This Player is 100% right of what he said, am also a professional footballer, I went to different trials in Nigeria premier clubs, after my performance, I couldn’t get signed. Due the corrupt football system in Nigeria i traveled out and i was signed by merit without bribing any coach in Abroad. Tell me why they have not yet invite nwakali to Super after scoring one of the best goal against Big Team Like Atletico Madrid? right now he is thinking of Changing his Nationality to play for other country…
What are you saying? So because he scored a good goal in a friendly match couple years back,he must get called up to SE. Can you hear yourself? I’m a big Kel Nwakali fan but you people need to quit this BS hypes….if he he feels he’s too good to wait for SE call up like Awoniyi did then by all means he should go and play for another country maybe Hiati or India….the funny thing is this boy is not even eligible to play for another country..after playing for our youth teams. I watched his game against Tenerife and he was barely noticable…he even got yanked off after the first half….when we criticize Nwakali you guys act as if we love him less but it’s not true.