All is now set for Enugu maiden edition of U-18 soccer fiesta tagged “Coal City Soccer Expo 2014” slated for 6 – 8 March, 2014.
The exercise which will feature 25 clubs is being packaged by Enugu state Football Association in collaboration with a Lagos-based FIFA licensed soccer scouting firm, ACE, which believes in sole aim of spotting budding football talents for possible export.
Disclosing this to sportswriters at the weekend in Enugu, the state football association chairman, Chidi Ofo Okenwa, said that the program was designed to give young footballers in the state and other parts of the country opportunity to display their talents before top football scouts from Norway, Nigeria, Turkey and Germany.
According to him, “No doubt, this is a very good opportunity for young players who believe in their God-given talents to put such on display in the four-day soccer fiesta.
“Hopefully, such talents in the mould of Chinedu Obasi, Solomon Okoronkwo, Chidera Eze, Chikeluba Ofoedu will be spotted by the eagle eyes that will be on ground to witness the show.”
The season soccer administrator further said that the lush green turf of University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus U.N.E.C Stadium, Enugu, will be the venue for the soccer show.
He added that 20 teams from the Coal City were expected to feature, while two clubs have been invited from Kaduna and Lagos states with one expected from Oyo state.
“It is a show for the youths of Enugu but that does not foreclose the participation of other teams that have talents which necessitated the invitation of teams from other states to participate in the talent-hunt programme at no cost with successful players assured of juicy playing careers abroad.”
The Enugu FA boss assured participating teams of level playing field as all FIFA standard rules shall apply in the programme with top referees handling all matches.