The Ibom Annual Football Scouting Tournament organized by OBA Youth Initiative in collaboration with Leon Sports International have revealed quite a number of budding soccer talents in Akwa Ibom and few others from outside the state.
The ongoing tournament at OBA Multipurpose Sports Complex, Ifa Ikot Akpan, off Airport Road, Uyo, with about 500 registered players, drawn from 20 Youth football teams, will be rounded up on Sunday, November 20, 2022.
Speaking about his assessment of the participating players at the tournament, the Chief Scout, Damir Skomina expressed delight with the quality of budding soccer talents so far discovered at the games.
Skomina, a retired Slovenian referee, who officiated the 2017 UEFA Europa League final between Ajax and Manchester United; the 2019 UEFA Champion League final between Liverpool, Tottenham, among other top football encounters, said the tournament is a big opportunity for the players.
“The competitions have gone on smoothly from Monday, November 14, when we started. I can say that that so far, we are quite impressed with the talents seen of the young players.
“By Sunday, November 20, 2022, we will complete the selection process and pick the best from the pool,” Skomina said.
Also speaking, the OBA Youth Initiative, through Mr. Emmanuel Billy, commended the sport loving Senator and Gubernatorial candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Akwa Ibom State, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, the sponsor of the tournament, for his love to develop talents in the state.
“The passion of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, towards youth development is simply amazing. By sponsoring this youth soccer tournament, he has automatically provided opportunities for Akwa Ibom budding talents to be taken abroad to explore greener pastures,” Mr. Billy added.
He added that OBA has developed a blueprint that will aid youths and sports development covering all sporting activities as well as the welfare of coaches and administrators when he comes on board as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2023.
A member of the organizing Committee of Ibom Football Clinic, Dani Aisabokhae and the Director, Leon Football Academy, Mr. Jude Asekhameh also described Senator Albert’s efforts in youth development as incredible and worthy of emulation.
They said the tournament was quite revealing of the abundant soccer talents in Akwa Ibom and said it will surely help those who will be selected to go further in playing professional football career abroad.
