former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu
A former Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu has said the success of DR Congo club TP Mazembe should serve as a challenge for Nigerian clubs and the Nigeria Premier League.
Mazembe made history by becoming the first club outside Europe and South America to play Club World Cup final. However, they lost 3-0 to European champions Inter Milan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Saturday.
The African champions had defeated Mexican side Pachuca 1-0 in the quarterfinals before beating Brazil’s Internacional 2-0 in the semifinals.
Chukwu, a former Enugu Rangers coach, told our correspondent on the telephone on Monday that Nigerian clubs could achieve similar successes if the NPL could improve players‘ welfare.
”Enyimba have played at the Club World Cup before and Heartland nearly did the same thing two seasons ago before losing to Mazembe in the CAF Champions League final,” Chukwu said.
”Nigerian clubs have found it difficult to impress on the continent because players‘ welfare have not been addressed. The players don‘t have the confidence in themselves in playing against their counterparts when they feature at continental competitions.
“A majority of the clubs owe their players and the league organisers are not doing anything about it. Mazembe are not run like that. The owners invested to get the results we are seeing.”
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