The President of Change The Game Projects (CTGP), Robinson Adakosa, has said that no fewer than 20 scouts from England, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal
and other top European countries will be in Nigeria in May, 2017 to scout for young talented players.
Adakosa said this in an interview with the newsmen in Ilorin on Thursday while speaking ahead of preparation for Nigeria Youth Cup 2017 in Abuja.
He said amateur teams in various states across Nigeria are expected to obtain forms from there state’s Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) office to get a chance to play in the Youth Cup, tagged “Nigeria Youth Cup 2017”.
He said aspiring football players under the age of 18 would be given opportunity to showcase their talents across the country and at the zonal level before the final stage in Abuja.
The CTGP President explained that teams who emerged champions at the state level will converge for a battle at the zonal level, adding that teams which triumph at that level will compete for honours in Abuja.
He added that registration has started already and will close by the 31th of January and urged interested persons to contact their state’s YSFON office.
He also told newsmen that overall champion of the competition will go home with the sum of N5m, 1st runner-up N2m and the 2nd runner-up N1m.
Adakosa also explained that in the process of state and zonal playoffs, a selected all stars side will emerge, adding that the side will embark on a foreign playing tour where lucky players will be selected and signed by top European club sides.
The CTGP President maintained that no player lucky to picked by any of the scouts will be asked to pay any more.
“See, we have too many talented players in Nigeria, what these boys need is who to oppose them.
“We are not asking anyone to pay a kobo, if you are picked, you will go to Europe only with your training materials and clothes.
“All you need do is to impress the scouts coming.
“We will be offering any player(s) willing to combine education and football together a chance too.
“We have our flyers around and people can pick our numbers there and call to ask us for clarifications, if there is any” Adakosa said.
He said the project is put together in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as YSFON.
“We had a meeting with the ministry recently, to sell our ideas to them, where we agreed to do this jointly.
“I feel the ministry agreed to work with us because we shared the same objectives” Adakosa added.