Football enthusiasts have called on former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, and other players discovered by renowned grassroots coach, Ndubuisi Nduka, to extend greater support to the veteran tactician, whom many describe as one of the pillars of youth development in Nigerian football.

The conversation gained renewed momentum during the burial of Nduka’s mother in Mbaise midweek, where several stakeholders reflected on the coach’s career-long contributions to talent discovery and development. They expressed concern that, despite his sacrifices, Nduka continues to shoulder personal and health-related burdens without meaningful assistance from the players whose careers he helped launch.

Stakeholders recounted a notable incident in the early 2000s when Nduka, then with Plateau United, allegedly came close to losing his life after fielding a young Mikel Obi in a high-stakes league encounter against Bendel Insurance. 

The unrest that followed reportedly resulted in Plateau United’s temporary relocation to Abuja, a period that nonetheless provided Mikel the platform to flourish before earning global recognition.

For many fans, this episode underscores the depth of Nduka’s commitment to nurturing young talents, often at great personal risk.

They are now urging Mikel Obi to initiate a broader engagement with fellow professionals—past and present—on providing structured support for Nduka and for grassroots coaches across the country. According to them, such intervention is long overdue, considering the central role these coaches play in the national football ecosystem.

Analysts note that the sustainability of Nigeria’s football development pipeline depends significantly on strengthening the grassroots, where the nation’s most promising talents are first identified and refined.