Enyimba FC goalkeeper, Theophilus Afelokhai, has said Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr’s preference for foreign-based players is seriously devaluing the market price of home-based players. In a chat with the former Kano Pillars captain, the Edo born shot-stopper said Rohr’s predecessors gave opportunities for local players to fight for shirts in the senior national team but the tenure of the Franco-German tactician has shut out NPFL players.
He said “During Keshi’s time, he made the home-based players to be really valued because he used them in the Super Eagles but right now, the market value of home-based players has dropped drastically, and it is just too poor. “In the past, the home-based players get signed up easily but now, they have to go through trials to get signed and this is very bad. This is simply because we are not recognized in the national team,” he said. (Text and photo courtesy Daily Trust)