Ex-footballer and former U23 All African Games invitee, Kelvin Etemike has vowed that himself and their team of top football Directors and scouts from different countries across Europe will not rest on their oars until they discover every good talent in Nigeria.
The team has been moving from one region of the country to another, but Etemike said they don’t intend to stop the exercise which has benefitted and impacted the lives of many young Nigerian footballers any time soon.
According to Etemike, Nigeria is blessed with enormous talents, which they are ready to go the distance to unearth or discover them.
“We’ll keep combing Nigeria for talents, begins Etemike.
“This country is blessed with many budding talents but have no one to nurture them into stardom.
“We are committed to this and will continue to provide the needed platforms for these players to actualise their dreams, he noted.
In the past couple of weeks, the team were in Abuja where they had a scouting tournament before departing for Yenegoa, the Bayelsa state capital, where they were involved in the 6th Gov. Diri Prosperity Football Scouting Tournament/Coaching clinic in Bayelsa state. They are currently in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, from where they will proceed down to Lagos for yet another scouting program.
Speaking further, Etemike recalled how this whole journey started, while praising his boss, Harry Azodo, Sporting Director OTP United of Finland and coach Augustine Jibril, Head coach OTP United, Finland, which he applauded for their huge contribution into making the project successful.
“We started this project back in 2019 and it’s been a huge success story.
“I must thank and at the same time commend my boss, Harry Azodo and coach Augustine Jibril, without which this wouldn’t have been successful.
The ex-footballer cum players intermediary said they tour Nigeria twice every year in search of good talents.
“We usually go round Nigeria twice every year to scout for talents and within the two years we make other visits which is not as comprehensive in terms of places covered.
He extolled the Bayelsa state government for the great job they are doing and for partnering with them.
“I want to thank the Bayelsa state government for the good work they are doing with the Prosperity Cup and for partnering with us.
“If all states are paying attention like that to the young ones, Nigeria will be a better place for us all, he said.
He however called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to do more with regards to national teams preparation. He decried the fire brigade approach towards their camping before major tournaments, sighting the U17 and the Super Eagles as examples.
“I want to appeal to the NFF to take issues of early camping and preparations for the national teams more seriously.
“A situation where a team enter camp one week or two to a major tournament does not augur well”, he concluded.
The scouts they have around now are Mindaugas Malinauskas of Lithuania, a retired Lithuanian goalkeeper coach, Augustine Jibrin head coach, OTP United, Simas Kumza, Sports Director, FK Babrungas Plunge, Lithuania, Harry Azodo, Sporting Director OTP of Finland, Ahmet Ozein, agent choli scout, Turkey, former international Peter Nieketen, Hakan Uyanmis, agent and CEO H.Sports Management agency Sporting Director of Sakaryaspor, Glenn Stahl International Football Scout and Kelvin Etemike, CEO Tristone Sports/ OTP of Finland.