The Head Coach of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubair, has pinpointed poor nurturing and inadequate data documentation as major hindrances to football development in Africa.
Speaking to journalists after a week-long U-13 Kiddies Football Competition in his honour in Ilorin, Coach Zubair lamented the challenges young players face in transitioning to stardom due to these shortcomings.
He noted that while Africa is brimming with raw talent, the structures for proper player development and documentation remain inadequate compared to Europe.
Zubair was particularly impressed with the level of skill displayed by the young players during the final match between Dickalo FC and Barca FC, identifying at least six players with the potential to join the U-15 National Team. However, he emphasized that these talents could only reach their full potential with proper nurturing and systematic data collection.
“The pedigree of players I have seen here at this U-13 level shows that Nigeria has a very bright future in football,” Zubair remarked.
To achieve this bright future, Zubair called on the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), state football associations, and the national federation to play more effective roles in identifying, documenting, and nurturing young talents.
Coach Zubair who is also the gaffer of El-kanaemi Warriors, lauded the organizers of the competition for a successful, rancor-free event, confirming that it would be held annually.
In the final, Barca FC defeated Dickalo FC 2-0 to lift the maiden edition of the tournament. Cash prizes and trophies were awarded to the top three teams, while individual awards, including Most Valuable Player, Best Goalkeeper, and Highest Goal Scorer, were also presented to deserving players.
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