Talent Hunt: European scouts set to invade Nigeria
Loading ...Top English and Canadian scouts are expected to visit Nigeria to hunt for hidden football talents at the grassroots level across the country, AOIFootball.com reports.
The programme, designed by Abi Goodman, the Executive Program Coordinator of OZ Consulting Firm and Kanu Soccer Academy in Canada, would see the Senior Academy Coach and Scout Coordinator Colin Cardines join former premiership footballer who captained Wigan Athletic to victory in 2014 FA Cup final to lead international college & club scouting event across Nigeria.
The International Colleges and Clubs Scouting Programme for U15-U23 is slated to take place across Nigeria from August to September.
Goodman said her team has the experience in managing and coordinating football events across Europe and North America and are ready to replicate same for the development of Nigerian talents.
“We coordinate tournaments in Europe and North America and work with scouts from Premiership clubs across Europe,” Goodman said.
Jason Garforth, speaking on the project, said: “This scouting showcase is designed to promote education and expose young lovers of football in Nigeria to scholarship opportunities in USA and Canada.
“Football is the most loved and passionately followed of all the sports in the country for which we have a comparative advantage compared to other sports. Apart from being a unifying factor, we also have a lot of talents in the country.
“Investments made to harness, promote and project the talent will rub off on the populace. Big, bold and far-reaching initiatives that can capture the minds and imagination of young people and the nation like the ICC scouting showcase is imperative,” Goodman added.
The program according to Goodman will take place from 22nd August to 7th September 2018 in different venues across the states.
“The programme benefits for Nigerian students and youth participants are positive character building, enlightenment on the dangers of drug abuse, sportsmanship leadership, positive holistic development and extracurricular activities.
“Others are membership of a 15-man team to showcase tournaments in Europe and North America; the discovery of outstanding football talents for exposure and professional career development and international education sports scholarship,” she said.
ICCSS, according to Abi, “is driven by the need to spread our net wide and give the opportunity to as many talented footballers across the nation as possible to come forward and show their talents and be identified. It is to create opportunities for budding talents at the grassroots, in schools and on the streets to participate for a chance to achieve their dream of becoming professional footballers.”
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Source: http://aoifootball.com/2018/07/23/talent-hunt-european-scouts-set-to-invade-nigeria/
