Football scouts from U.K. storm Akure

The Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA) announced on Tuesday that scouts from Sheffield United FC of England would be on ground to hunt for talents at the maiden `ODSFA Talent Discovery Football League'.

Mike Idoko, the Coordinator of the Agency, disclosed this in Akure, during a stakeholders meeting between the Agency and grassroots coaches at the Akure Township Stadium.

The league is scheduled to begin on Aug. 2.
Idoko said that it was the desire of the Gov. Olusegun Mimiko to see that youths were taken away from the streets by engaging them in soccer activities.

'It is the desire of our Governor to see that youths are taken away from restiveness by engaging them in football activities at all `nooks and crannies' of our sports-loving state.

'Scouts from Sheffield United will be on ground to scout for talents during the league programme: Talent Discovery Football League.

'The Academy has the backing of the agency and the governor to organise the league as planned, and to take our grassroots footballers to international stardom,' Idoko said.

Dele Ologbese, Secretary, ODSFA, however, said that local government chairmen in the state should partner with ODSFA to make the league a reality.

Ologbese added that the agency was prepared to make the league a success, as well as make it a model for other states to emulate.

'We want the LG chairmen in the state to support our various grassroots programmes and make them success stories.

'You can see what we achieved with MISTON. We will be happy to achieve another feat in this programme,'' Ologbese said.

Dapo Ajibade, Coordinator, ODSFA Football Academy, thanked the grassroots coaches for their participation in the programme in both the current and past efforts, noting that this would be the first of its kind in the state.

Ajibade added that he could see excitement on the faces of the coaches and officials that participated in the event, pledging that all the coaches and officials would be carried along. (NAN)