Former Nigeria number goalkeeper, Segun Tunji revealed to www.aclsports.com that players who represented the country at this year’s Africa Handball nation’s cup were not patriotic.
The ASPAC of Benin Republic goalkeeper disclosed this during the 4th Sam Ocheho invitational handball championships in Lagos, Nigeria.
Nigeria failed to win a match at the 2018 African Handball Championship in Gabon last January.
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The veteran goalkeeper noted that the coaching crew tried their best in the technical department but the players did not play to instructions.
“The opponents I played with (Delta Force) are my boys that we train together in the Nigerian camp. I want the federation to know something, the coaches that led the team to the 2018 Africa handball nation’s cup did their homework but the players were not committed”, Tunji said.
“I stopped playing handball for a long time and I’ve been a coach as well as player in the Republic of Benin. Fortunately for me, I found myself playing at the 4th Sam Ocheho invitational tournament. I also found out that in the team, the younger players depends on me so much because of my experience”.
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He said, “I’m retired and still playing with the younger ones like this. I did not train for one day, I left my honey money for the tournament; my wife is also here to watch me play “.
On the way forward, Tunji said, “the federation has to engage in grassroots development, pick players from the U21, to catch up the little ones in the senior team so that they can blend together. After the first and second year, you’ll have a standard senior team”.
“Already, the federation have sent out the player that are not committed. So let’s concentrate on the Cadet so that they can join up the senior team. You can see some Nigerians playing for ASPAC team; if you join them with the ones in Nigeria, you’ll form a formidable team”, he added.
The Ex international played three All African Games winning bronze medals, over 30 Nation’s Cup and one World Cup.
Segun Tunji played for Kano pyramid, Benue Buffalos, Edo dynamus, Sokoto Rima and Nigeria United.
