A three-day trial commenced on Wednesday in Awka, Anambra State Capital, for young football talents seeking opportunities in football clubs in European countries.
On day one of the trials, which took place at the Awka Township Stadium, a team of European football professionals watched players of various football clubs in the state, including De Gamechanger FC, DOSAD Sports, and Solution FC, among others, showcase their talents.
The visiting team includes Jorge Forster, a Spanish FIFA Agent; Rene Merilo, the President of FC Metropol, Estonia; and a scouting manager. They were in Anambra at the invitation of their partners, including De Gamechanger FC and Awka.
The Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Commission, Patrick Estate Onyedum, who witnessed the trials, said the State Government is committed to supporting sports development and making it lucrative for young people to make a living from it.
Spanish agent Forster explained that they are in the state on the invitation of their partners to identify football prodigies.
Noting that the state has many football talents on display, Forster noted that the football academies must be well supported to develop young talents.
“We observed that these talents do not develop early enough to be able to go to Europe before 18 years.
“However, the average talent tries as hard as he can to develop himself, but he needs support to understand the kind of football played in Europe and be able to fit in there.
“The government must invest in good professionals, with modern systems that can help the young talents to develop all-round.
“While it is important that young people have good skills, it is most important that they have the right attitude and positive energy to be able to function in developed societies as European countries. So the government should invest in the growth of football academies,” he said
The President of a grassroots football academy, De Game Changer Football Club, Comrade Obi Emeka Chukwudi, said through the exercise, he is aligning himself and his resources with the vision of the State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to create a sports economy in Anambra State.
He expressed optimism that with the talents on display, at the end of the scouting programme, the scouts will take talents to Europe.
Obi opined that De Gamechanger FC is a major partner with the state government in football development, having provided a platform for the talents at the grassroots to showcase their potential on a wider scale.
“We want to use football to mitigate crime because we believe that when a youth is gainfully engaged in sports, they will have no time for crime,” he said.
On his part, the Director of DOSAD Sports, Rev Father Obinna Dike, said through the scouting programme, they want to open the youths to opportunities abroad.
Describing the initiative as a step ahead, Dike said the scouting team is not just coming to pick players but also to see areas where they can support the state and the clubs.
He said, “They are not just coming so that players can be marketed to them. They are also looking at areas in which they can partner with the state and the clubs regarding technical partnership and financial support.
“So they are here, to see what we have on the ground and to see how they can support the state.”
De Gamechanger FC President Obi (in blue senator), flanked on his right by Spanish FIFA Agent Forster and a scout manager, and on his left by FC Metropol Estonia President, Merilo
