The recent ‘A Minute in Lagos with Hull City Scouts’ event proved to be a pivotal moment for young football talents in Nigeria. Mustafa Yokesh, the Head of Scout Management Department at Hull City, shared valuable insights into the objectives and outcomes of the scouting program.
As the head of Hull City’s Scout Management Department, Yokesh outlined the primary goal of scouting young talents in Africa and South America.
Read Also: Alhaji Gafar Liameed Speaks on ‘A Minute in Lagos With Hull City Scouts’ Scouting Program
The objective is to identify promising players, provide them with opportunities to gain experience, and ultimately enhance their careers.
The emphasis is on loaning players to other clubs before bringing them to England, ensuring they adapt to the challenges of English football.
“We are looking for young talents for Hull City. But before Hull City, we can loan the player somewhere to be a good player, then play there because I don’t want them, the players, to come to England without playing any games.
So I want to loan them to somewhere else in Turkey, in Europe, wherever we find the good clubs. We have a good relationship with many clubs. So this is our progress. We are trying to do this kind of thing in Africa and South America.” Yokesh told Sports247.
Yokesh highlighted key criteria for selecting players, emphasizing the importance of technical proficiency and the ability to adapt to the physical demands of the Championship.
The focus is on finding players who can effectively use their physical attributes and contribute to the team’s success.
The preference for untapped talent stems from a cost-effective strategy, as tested players often come with higher price tags.
Having visited multiple African countries, including Nigeria, Yokesh commended the organization and quality of academies in Nigeria.
Despite being impressed with the number of talents, he acknowledged the challenge of acquiring the best players due to their popularity and cost.
Yokesh expressed a positive view of Nigeria’s potential as a talent pool for academies, citing the country’s status as one of the biggest in terms of population.
In response to a question about improvements in scouting, Yokesh suggested that creating a larger scouting organization could enhance the process.
He recognized Nigeria as having significant potential and viewed the country as a valuable source of talent for academies.
Yokesh revealed that he identified a few talents during his time in Nigeria and planned to discuss their potential with academies.
He appreciated the players’ technical skills and physicality, underlining the importance of adapting to the physical demands of the Championship.
The ‘A Minute in Lagos with Hull City Scouts’ event showcased the untapped potential of Nigerian football talents and highlighted the crucial role scouting programs play in providing opportunities for young players.
Hull City’s commitment to identifying, developing, and nurturing talent underscores the club’s dedication to contributing to the growth of football on a global scale.
