Sports
Elegbeleye tasks NPFL Clubs to Scout for Players at NDSF
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Clubs have been pointed in the direction of the forthcoming Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) as an organic scouting ground for players.
Hon.Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL Chairman offered the tip while endorsing the festival scheduled to hold from April 1-8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The former Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) obviously has the pedigree to speak on the benefits of multi-sports events like the festival having supretended the participation of Nigeria in Commonwealth Games and the Winter Olympics where the country made good medals returns
He is specifically excited by the festival Ambassadors initiative, which he said would feed the aspirational hunger of budding athletes.
The likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Blessing Oborodudu, Victor Ikpeba and Enefiok Udo-Obong have been appointed Festival Ambassadors. There are also Emmanuel Amunike, Tamunosiki Atorudibo, Patience Igbiti, Seun Ogunkoya and Efioanwan Ekpo.
“The organizers could not have done better than to go for those who have made the nation proud in major international competitions like the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and other various World Championships as Ambassadors of the Nigeria Delta Sports Festival.”
“The goals of Kanu, Ikpeba and Amunike were crucial in getting Nigeria an important gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games just as our anchor, Enee ran the race of his life which resulted in Nigeria securing a gold medal in 4 x 400m in Australia, four years later.
“Blessing Oborodudu’s heroics on the mat culminated in a much needed Olympics silver medal while two-time African Athletics Championship winner Seun Ogunkoya’s record in 100m remains intact since 1998”, Elegbeleye stated to support the choice of the chosen sports persons.
Supporting the inclusion of Paralympic athlete and coach, Patience Igbiti who clinched medals in consecutive Olympic Games, Elegbeleye remarked that”Patience’s consistency in Powerlifting got her Olympic Games medals in 2004 and 2008 before becoming a coach of repute.”
An indigene of Ondo State, one of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) mandate states, Elegbeleye said he is proud to be part of the region that has blazed the trail in regional games as a trigger for grassroots sports development.
The festival Ambassadors will be unveiled at a ceremony in Owerri, Imo State on Friday, March 7 and over 3000 athletes and 600 coaches from nine states would be in Uyo to compete for medals in 17 sports.
Sports
From Streets to Stardom: Unique Futbol Academy Scouting Program Inspires Ibadan’s Young Footballers
Ibadan is buzzing with excitement as the Unique Football Academy Scouting Program kicks off, bringing together top European football clubs and talented young Nigerian players.
The four-day program, which commenced on Monday, features a delegation of four directors from prominent European teams, including two from Kosovo and one from India, led by renowned football agent Diego Martins from Portugal.
The scouting program aims to identify and select outstanding players who will be given opportunities to showcase their skills in Europe.
Successful players will be offered the chance to take their careers to the next level, with the organizers assuring them of opportunities abroad.
According to the Director of the program and founder of Unique Football Academy, Mr. Jelil Oladimeji, this is not the first time the academy has organized such an event.
“This is the 4th edition, and we are proud of the progress and impact we have made so far in terms of exposing our raw talent to the European market,” he said.
The program has already proven successful, with several players from previous editions going on to excel in European leagues. Some notable examples include Haruna Saleh with PAOK in Greece and Praisegod Emersons in Slovakia.
As the program continues, clubs are gearing up to exhibit their talents, and the future looks bright for Nigeria’s young football stars.
-
Featured6 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured6 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured6 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured6 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured4 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Sports3 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News10 months agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
-
Featured6 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
