Yagazie Foundation brings foreign coaches to Nigeria

By Akeem Lawal

Top American, Danish, Swedish coaches are already in Nigeria to hunt for hidden football talents at the grassroots level during a talent hunt event in Lagos titled, “Coaching Clinic and Scouting Programme”.

The programme, designed by Yagazie Foundation in collaboration with JTL Sports, Dominion Hotspur and FC Bethel International will also see over 150 coaches from different academies and sporting institutions in the country being tutored on the new techniques and tactics of the game by their foreign counterpart. 

The coaches already on ground include Chris Chapman (USA), Rene Lindharth (Denmark), Allan Jensen (Denmark), Taylor Pitts (USA) and Erling Thomsen (Denmark).

The coaching clinic which began on Saturday and will end on Monday, is being put together by Yagazie Foundation in partnerships with the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) and the Lagos State Football Coaches Association.

The screening and scouting programme for players from 18-25 years will hold from 16th to 18th October, 2018 at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Speaking on the project, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Yagazie Foundation, Kennedy Chinedu Ezirim, said that it aimed at developing local coaches to meet up with FIFA standards and also provide opportunity for talented players to continue their football career abroad. 

“The coaching clinic is to train the trainers. The coaches are here to educate us. Our coaches have been able to raise talents such as Kanu Nwankwo, Taribo West, Austin Okocha, Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwingie, Victor Osihnmen and these coaches are here to add to what our coaches have known. On the other hand we will be having a scouting programme because this programme is about helping the coaches and helping the players as both goes hand in hand. This is the inaugural edition and we are going to make it yearly,” Ezirim said.