Lapai Football Academy Scouting Programme: 15 Talented Players To Hit Europe In November

Ibraheem Lateef Ayodele

The Lapai Football Academy 3-day scouting programme with FIFA Licence Agent Mauro Cavalli in Minna, Niger State may have struck gold as 15 talented youthful players spotted during the exercise are set to jet out by November for further evaluation in Europe.

Speaking to BSNSports.com.ng at the close of the intensive scouting programme, the initiator of the exercise, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lapai Football Academy, Alhaji Umar Batako Lapai express satisfaction with the programme.

He disclosed that about eight football academies drawn from Niger, Abuja and Kaduna States participated in the programme.

According to him, "The organisers decided to ensure that, it prone down the number of participants to ensure proper scrutiny of players."

David Adewoye and Fabian Edaba who assisted Mauro Cavalli in the three-day scouting exercise commended the players for their high sense of dedication and discipline.

"This is one of the best scouting exercises we have witnessed in recent times."

It was disclosed that a total of 22 talents were discovered during the exercise, but due to logistic challenges, the number was prone down to 15 for effective management and coordination. 

"Out of the number of highly talented players spotted by the team, 10 are immediately going to process their travel documents for a trip to Italy for trials.

"Another batch of five players have been pencilled down to travel to Romania in the winter break to commence their professional football adventure."

"In order not to waste talents discovered during the exercise, we have placed five players on standby in case of any eventuality, " they stated.

According to them, the bulk of the 15 players discovered was drawn from Lapai Football Academy, John Utaka Academy, Minna, Keep Winning Academy, Abuja and Giant Academy. 

Cavalli, the Italian-born who supervised the exercise urge developing countries to invest more in facilities adding that with more investment in no-distance time, Africa would rule the football world.