…Igali Takes Symbolic Scouting Exercise Kick Off
Ahead of the 3rd Gov Douye Diri International scouting program, the commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Hon Daniel Igali is expected to take the symbolic kick off the 3rd Governor Douye Diri SPOCS scouting program at the Samson Stadium by 8am on Monday.
One of the invited team Jobisports FC of Owerri has arrived Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital for an important international scouting exercise.
Jobisports FC who arrived Yenagoa Thursday, were spotted at the venue of the scouting program, the Samson Siasia Stadium, where they had a light walkout in preparation for the spectacle.
The programme which is an initiative of the Prosperity Government of Governor Douye Diri and his Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo piloted by the Commisisoner of Youth and Sports Development is coordinated by the Director General of Bayelsa State Governor’s Football Tournament tagged the Prosperity Cup Mr Ono Akpe in collaboration with SPOCS Sporting Consultants, Germany, and Red Sapphire Ltd Abuja.
The exercise is designed to expose the abundant talents of the youths of Bayelsa in an attempt to present selected players to International scouts for playing careers overseas with the exercise coming up from Monday having screened some of the participating teams earlier in the week.
According to the convener, Mr. Ono Akpe, that the English Premier league is ably represented on the programme as Geoff Lockhart the immediate past Newcastle lead Scout, Head of Scout Spocs who is representing Newcastle, Wolverhampton and Watford would be in Bayelsa for the forthcoming scouting program.
Others are ex international footballer Tanasijevic Jovan representing Vojvodina and Dynamo Kiev Moscow , and from the Bundeslig, Borel Moukoko representing global sports consulting agency SPOCS Germany and coordinated by Gbenga Agbejoye Director SPOCS Nigeria who would be in Bayelsa for the 5 day programme.
Addressing newsmen on arrival Chief Executive Officer of Jobisports FC of Owerri,Chika Akujobi, said he was pleased to be part of the 3rd Gov Diri International scouting exercise in Yenagoa, stressing that there is need to invest in the youths, describing youths as bedrock of the society.
Mr. Akujobi noted that the only way to engage them positively was to give attention to youth development, pointing out that the youths are the future of the super eagles, other junior national teams as well as the States owned team.
The Netherlands based club proprietor, urged government at all levels and the organized private sector to invest in sports particularly football which according to him is the tool to take the lads off criminal activities and other social vices.
He commended the Bayelsa State government and organisers of the scouting program for the laudable vision, adding that the surest way of moulding productive youths was to give them premium attention through sports.
Also, the Chairman of the LOC of the programme, Mr Perela Aboro outlined that the participating teams which included Bayelsa Starlets FC, Crusaders Feeders FC, Champions of the Prosperity Cup, EGM FC, Dream Boys FA, Bayelsa Utd Team B, Kingdom Stars FC, Afini FC, Bayelsa Stars FA and BYSGFCA Selected FC.
Invited teams outside Bayelsa to participate in the scouting event are Jobi FC of Imo State, Boma Kings FC of Rivers State, Erema Jackson of Porthacourt, Rivers State, Brighter Sports FC of Gbaramatu, Delta State, Excellence FC of Delta State, and Dynamo Academica FC of Edo State and Ndame Football Academy of Kwale, Delta State.
