Former Super Eagles stars, Pastor Taribo West, Julius Efosa Aghahowa and Joseph Dosu are lending support to a youth development initiative, Footballers Connect, which aims to educate future stars for the country.
The project, which will be staged in the form of a conference of soccer stars and management experts, will involve about 250 young footballers in Lagos, who will be in influenced by connections with professionals.
Coming under the theme ‘Dream Yet Live,’ the conference will hold next Saturday, December 15 at Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, with a panel of federation administrators, ex-internationals, club bosses and active professionals expected in attendance.
Sports247.ng gathered that Taribo will lead the team of ex-professional stars, along with Aghahowa, Dosu, Sunday Stephen (Sunny) and Eseoghene Matthew Edafe, a player turned club boss and broadcaster.
The pile of top-flight professionals will use their wealth of experience to mentor the youngsters.
Professionals from Asia and Turkey will also lend their unique voices to topical, contemporary and controversial issues that young footballers are faced with at different stages of their careers.
Organisers of Footballers Connect, Hay Sports disclosed that they want to correct a lot of ill-advised decisions made by young professionals.
Hay Sports strategist, Amos Joseph added that the event is organized in a bid to change the mindset of Nigerian youths with regards to their ambitions in making it big in the round leather game.
Joseph stressed that they want to put an end to aspirations that some times turn into desperation and have an overbearing effect on their decisions, thus leaving them less or not prepared for hurdles ahead.
He added that this first of its kind conference in Nigeria will look to issues such as dangers associated with inappropriate emigration with the aim of seeking greener pastures abroad and passing trials.
Others are language barrier, weather and other pertinent factors that tends to affect chances of survival in different parts of the world.
Joseph expatiated: “The conference sessions are augmented with presentations from current professionals, ex-internationals and football administrators.
“There also will be networking opportunities and several other engaging, fun activities are lined up, some culminating to the young footballers standing chances to win useful sporting gears.
“We look to change the thought system of the ordinary Nigerian youth in a positive way such that there is a different approach towards chasing greener pastures.
“What we have realized is that Nigerians just want to ‘escape’ without a plan, which is not the best way to emigrate from your comfort zone.
“Young players travel out of Nigeria to distant countries where they have no one to assist or help them.
“Some have been lured by intermediaries who pretend to have a deal for them, but on getting to the destination the story is not the same.
“Some players are not ready for the challenge. In terms of preparation for trials, hence the need for us to involve the coaches to also benefit.
“As it is often said, you cannot give what you don’t have. They will get to learn from the experiences of players who have been there and have seen it all at the biggest stage.
“We have invited player who ply their trades in different ends of the world, Asia, America, Europe and other parts of the world to join us in making this difference and help prepare players for the task ahead.”
