After five days of strenuous training under the supervision of English and local coaches, four participants at the second FCV Gladiators Camp, which ended at the Grande School, Lagos, at the weekend, were awarded scholarships to train and study in the United Kingdom.
Over 100 students drawn from schools in Lagos and its environs, featured in the clinic organised by Dynaspro Promotion Limited in collaboration with UK-based FCV International Academy with the sole aim of unearthing hidden football talents in Nigeria.
The awardees are Chikwere Ikpo, Yakubu Danladi, Stephen Akhimien and Sadiq Musa, who are expected to embark on a two-week training tour of UK-based FCV International Academy in July.
At the end of the clinic, former Super Eagles star, Mutiu Adepoju, who mentored the students,commended the organisers for what he said would improve football development in the country.
“I serve as an example to you all. My career would have been cut short if I wasn’t resilient. I almost gave up when I was dropped by club and national team coaches, but the capacity to withstand difficulties kept me going and here I am today telling you my success story.
“I urge you all never to give up and I pray you will succeed in all endeavours,” he stated.
Reacting to the success ending of the programme, Senior Manager at FCV International Academy, Kerem Karacauli, described Nigeria as a hotbed of football talents that should be well harnessed.
“I’m satisfied with what I have seen so far. Although most players are still work in progress, I think they will all improve as time goes on. We sighted some qualities in some of the players and ability to take the ball under control instinctively is another key skill we all observed.
“Some players know exactly what they’re going to do before receiving the ball and I think with all these, the lads will go places,” he stated.
