Nigeria is undoubtedly blessed with football talents. Amidst the uncertainties and challenges that have bedeviled the football ecosystem in Nigeria, some of the footballers have defied the odds to prove their potentials and have grown to become superstars.
While football clubs and academies continue to sprang up across the country, the high rate of talented footballers that the country is blessed with have increased the call for the need to raise the bar of structure and organization aimed at creating opportunity for the footballers.
Not only for its purpose to engage the youths and unite people of different backgrounds, the football industry has become an enterprise which, if properly explored and harnessed will create a sustainable means of
empowerment and economic prosperity.
Many football Academies have been launched in Nigeria to give young talented players the opportunity to play both home and abroad, but some have not been able to connect their right link towards achieving their objectives.
For Dollyp sporting academy, the narrative is now changing. From its professional approach in training and building players with the right technical and tactical values, the Academy has distinguished itself as an entity that is inclined with international best practices.
As part of a short term goal and effort to connect her players with opportunities, the academy recently held a scouting tournament in Ilorin, capital of Kwara State, Nigeria.
The scouting programme, which was monitored by The Informant247 and attracted different clubs, served as an avenue for players to showcase their talents to some of the European scouts brought down to the country by the Academy to link the players with top clubs in Europe.
One of the scouts, Jose Maria Fernandez who is a Sports Advisor of Sogndal IL, International Scout for OH Leuven and Dollyp Sport Academy noted that Nigeria is one of the best footballing nations in the world, hence its players will continue to be sought for.
Fernandez, who expressed his affinity to Nigerian footballers stated that Dollyp sporting academy is on the path of opening a lot of opportunities for Nigerian players to play in Europe and other parts of the world.
“Nigeria is a mine of football players and we have been able to see some quality players here that we can work with. This project is very good because of the top professionals and I believe they will take this academy to the top level” he said.
Roberto Suarez, one of the football scouts
who was on ground for the four day scouting programme expressed his delight to see some of the footballers, despite not playing in a perfect environment and condition still playing quality football.
While emphasizing the need for more technical and physical values for the players, he noted that the footballers have the quality to play anywhere in the world.
“I am convinced that, with more work, more methodology and improvement, some of these players can play anywhere in the world.
For Ahmed Akeem, an ex football player who works and scouts footballers for some Norwegian clubs, the Dolly P Sports Academy
is geared towards taking some of the talented footballers out of the street and helping them realize their dreams.
“I really enjoyed the programme. It’s the beginning of good things to come for people here in Kwara State and Nigeria. A lot of talents have been discovered and our major focus is to try to take them out of the streets, monitor them and help them achieve their dreams.
Founded in 2022,Dollyp sport Academy has branches in Kaduna State and Kwara State. According to Ahmed Abiola Fatai, the Head of the Kaduna Branch, the academy is determined to nurture players to stardom and will become a force to reckon with in a few years to come.
Speaking with managers of the clubs that participated in the scouting tournament, the Director of the Dollyp sporting academy, Ahmed Dolapo Yusuf described the project as a way of giving back to the society.
“This programme is the first of many to come. We are determined to create a pathway to greatness for Nigerian players. We are trying to give back to society through this project and we are not going to relent in our efforts.
No fewer than 300 players from different clubs participated in the Dollyp scouting tournament which was held between February 19 to 22 at the Kwara Football Academy pitch in Ilorin