By Ebube Dike

Kwara United Technical Adviser, Abdullahi Biffo has called on relevant football authorities in the country to pay more attention to the development of youth football at the grassroots.

Biffo who spoke at an online program on Wednesday, said what many sees as downward trend in football development in country, can be traced to the less emphasis on grassroots youth development of the game.

According to the former Abia Warriors FC gaffer, no meaningful development can be recorded in the game if less attention is paid to the youths at the grassroots “it’s only at that level that we can inculcate what ever philosophy we want into the players, as soon as to they emerged to the professional cadre, it becomes extremely difficult to change the orientation they have imbibed”.

Continuing, Biffo who holds a UEFA B license advised the administrator to deemphasis winning at that level, but development and participation “most of the football playing countries in Europe and South America don’t believe in winning at that level. They are more interested in developing the players and ensuring that the inculcate their philosophy into them, and this has been working wonders in their football. But here, our emphasis is on winning at all levels, thereby making people to circumvent ways to achieve that”.

The former Katsina Utd Head Coach expressed his readiness to further support the country in developing the youths at the national level whenever called upon.

Abdullahi Usman Biffo started his coaching career when he promoted Ondo United to Amateur Division One League in 2005, he won the Taraba State FA Cup with FC Taraba United in 2007, promoted Kwara United back to the Premier League in 2008-009, and won continental ticket with Kwara United in 2009-2010.

He handled Giwa FC in 2011-2012 to emerge as runners’ up in the Nigeria National League, and promoted the team to Nigeria Premier League in 2012-2013. Giwa also won the NNL Super 4 in 2013 under his watch.

In 2014/2015 season, Biffo promoted Niger Tornadoes of Minna to Nigeria Premier League and also won the Niger State Federation Cup with the team. They also emerge as champions of the NNL Super 4. He rescued Abia Warriors FC from relegation in 2016 winning all the five last matches and also bwon the Abia State Federation Cup with Abia Warriors in 2017. Biffo bwon the Katsina State Federation cup with Katsina United in 2018/2019.