Over 97 Football Clubs and Academies in Anambra State and the South East zone are featuring in the ongoing two-day Under-17 talent hunt and scouting programme being organized by the Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) under the leadership of Chief Chikelue Iloenyosi.

 

The two-day football scouting programme holding at the Awka City Stadium is being graced by the presence of the national Under-17 handler, Coach Manu Garba and Team Coordinator, Bello  Gusau.

 

The scouting programme is geared towards showcasing the numerous young talents in Anambra State and thereby giving them an opportunity to be part of the U17 National Team, the Golden Eaglets which is an initiative of Chief Iloenyosi for the development of grassroot football in Anambra State.

Speaking to Sports Journalists yesterday, Golden Eaglets Coach, Garba stated that his visit to Anambra State is to hunt for the best talents in the state that can play for the national team. Coach Garba disclosed that he is after players with the talent and technical ability who can be groomed to become the best in their age category and give a good account of themselves wearing the green and white colours of the nation.

 

Coach Garba said: “I am here to scout for the best footballing talents in Anambra State who have what it takes to play for the national under-17 team. Basically, we are looking out for players with the technical ability and talent who can be groomed to become the best in their age category and help the nation to win both the African and international Under-17 football tournament.”

The Golden Eaglets Coach disclosed that the selected players from the programme will undergo the mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test before they are invited to the national camping programme. He commended the ANSFA Chairman, Chief Iloenyosi for his dedication, commitment and initiatives aimed at developing football at the grassroots level in the state.

 

In his remarks, the Chairman, Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA), Chief Iloenyosi stated that his administration as the Chairman of Anambra FA is poised towards football growth and development at the grassroots level through talent hunting of this nature. Iloenyosi also disclosed that the programme is a launch pad to many more as he intends to get the Flying Eagles Coach to the state in the future. He enjoined the players to be at their best during the two-day program.

On his part, a former Secretary of Anambra FA, Sir Victor Nwangwu described the scouting programme as unprecedented in the history of football administration in the state. Nwangwu averred that the scouting programme will no doubt give the footballing teenagers in the state an opportunity to become professional footballers in the future while he commended the ANSFA Boss, Chief Iloenyosi for the vision and initiative.

 

Also speaking, a football administrator and Team Manager of De Wilson FC of Awka, Adolphus Ekeke eulogized ANSFA Chairman, Chief Iloenyosi for utilizing his connections in drawing the Golden Eaglets Coach and the Team Coordinator to the state. Ekeke said the scouting programme will no doubt put the state on the map of football and it’s a great opening for Anambra youths to be part of the national team.

 

Reacting also, the National President of ASATU, Barrister Titus Akpudo describes the program as a welcome development as it provides a platform for Anambra footballers to have a fighting chance of playing for the Under-17 national team and engage the youths to be meaningfully employed through engaging in sports.

 

The day featured catalogue of friendly matches among teams as the coach scouts for great talents.

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