Seven players have been selected from the South-South zone for the final of the Global Grassroots Football Tournament (GGFT) scheduled to take place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, next month, organized by an Abuja-based football academy, Prestige Football Academy (PFA).
Uchendu Nwabara, President and National Coordinator, GGFT said on Saturday that the seven players would proceed to Abuja for the final selection scheduled to hold from May 23 to May 26.
Nwabara said the tournament which started in the six geo-political zones of the country on April 17 with South-South taking the first shot, would end in North-East on May 5 before the final in Abuja.
He said the tournament organized for players between 16 and 19 years would be used for scouting players for the national teams and various foreign clubs.
“This tournament is the maiden edition and we have our target, which is to help revive football in Nigeria through scouting of super quality players.
“So many of them have been doing well irrespective of our different layers of scouting; every player has to be physically fit and must know everything that concerns football on the pitch.
“Also, the player’s medical history is part of the criteria and not just that, we also make sure that the player’s cognitive development and attention span are accessed as well as his character and discipline.
“Some of the players we have seen are very good and ready for the tournament,” Nwabara said.
Obafemi Olugbemi, Coordinator, of the South-South zone, Global Grassroots Football Tournament, also said that exceptional players were selected out of the over 200 that participated. The tournament would henceforth serve as nurturing ground for football talents for the country’s national teams.
Edwin Yobo, the Co-coordinator of South-South, who is the elder brother of former Super Eagles Captain, Joseph Yobo urged those who were not selected to up their game and prepare for the second edition next year.
Ernest Osuagbenironiso, one of the lucky players selected for the grand finale in Abuja, said the training was awesome but intense.
“We have a large turnout but I thank God I am part of the players selected.”
){kind=link}