Most Nigerian Players Not Mentally Stable- Sports Psychologist

A Sports Psychologist, Kehinde Adeyemi has revealed that most of Nigerian players playing in the top flight Nigeria l Professional Football League(NPFL and  lower divisions in the country are not mentally stable

Adeyemi who is a Director of Sports at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State was speaking on the "Importance of Sports Psychology for the players" at a seminar organised by the management of Remo Stars at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo to prepare the players of the club physically and mentally ahead of the team returned to elite division for the 2021/2022 season expected to kick-off soon

He expressed concern that most of the players are only physically ready to play but not mentally fit playing for their respective clubs in the local league because of their ambition to ply their trade in Europe and earn better packages for themselves

“Even when you have a player that is ninety percent ready, and not mentally ready, you cannot see the best of this player. That's to tell you that most of the Nigerian players are still in Nigeria not because they are not good enough but it's basically because they aren't ready mentally.”

“You don't see the best of these players until they get to Europe because majority of them are not mentally stable, they only go to the field to showcase their physical readiness and it usually doesn't bring out their best.”, Adeyemi stated

He stressed the need for the players to be both physically and mentally fit to give their best to their respective clubs in the league, before setting out to play  Europe

The Coach however expressed confidence in the quality of players recruited by Remo Stars saying the players will give their best when the NPFL season kick-off

“The truth is that we are yet to see the best of Remo Stars' players, we will work more on their psyche in ensuring that they bring out their best on and off the field and I am very confident that we will see the best of these players once the season commences.”  Adeyemi expressed optimism

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Captain of Remo Stars, Nduka Junior appreciated the Psychologist, the Management and the Coaches for packaging such a seminar  which would help the players know more about Sports Psychology"