22 November 2019
The Prince 7 Youth Development Initiative, Cross River State Youth for Ayade and Atiku, in collaboration with Next Naija Football Superstar, organised a one day football scouting in Calabar to select talented youths in football who will hopefully become international stars NEGROIDHAVEN can say authoritatively.
At the UJ Esuene stadium where the scouting took place, we spoke with the organisers of the talent hunt. Prince Godswill Edward (Prince 7), Arch. Eric Akpo and comrade Paul Ajie took us through the essence of the hunt.
Mr Kunle Lawal the Executive Director of Electoral College Nigeria and Kemas Osuji a 2019 House of Assembly candidate in Imo state, noted that there is need for continuous engagement of young talents in the state as Cross River state is lagging behind in football participation on the national and international level.
A former Special Adviser on Sport Mr Ekanem Ekpenyong explained that before now Cross Riverians were involved in national sporting activities but the story is different now even though presently the state has about five players in the under 23, Akwa United, under 23 Heart land and under 20 national.
Explaining the process of the hunt, Mr Patrick Attach the managing director of Patoz football concept (Next Naija Football Superstar) told News Panorama crew that a complete team of 11 players was supposed to be selected, but with the number of talented youths discovered on the pitch, they have decided to pick thirty players and train them in the camp in Abuja while others will proceed to Turkey for a football competition.
Mr Attah hinted that by next year the selected players will also be featured in a live television show to showcase their talents to the world.
The Managing Director made it known that coaches from Spain and Turkey will be invited to Nigeria to watch the selected players play in the pitch and buy the ones they feel are more talented.
12 Young Cross Riverians selected from across LGs of the State have been given the opportunity to become professional footballers in a project initiated by the duo of Arc. Eric Williams Akpo and Prince 7 using their organisation: Cross River Youths for Democracy and Good Governace (CRYFDAGG) and Prince 7 Youth Movement (P7YM) respectively.
Football scouts from Turkey were hosted in the State where they rigorously screened hundreds of participants to select 12 of the best prospects who are now in a camp in Abuja. The Abuja camp which would last 7 days for intensive coaching and preparation alongside passport and visa preparation is intended to groom the prospects for the task ahead which includes playing impressively in Turkey to gain a place in the professional world of football.
Some youths who came out for the hunt said their desire is to play for big teams and showcase their talents to the world.
Others thanked the organisers for coming to Calabar to scout for talents.
Some others pleaded with government and other agencies to also embark on such scouting to able the state produce more stars in sports.
