No fewer than twenty-four Nigerian players would be selected and absorbed into European academies after the D’Elite trial matches, Mr Tersoo Tyungu, Executive Director of Elite Sports Investment Nigeria, said on Thursday.

 

Tyungu disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja after the trial matches held at the package ‘B’ of the National Stadium.

 

He said that the trial was to support and assist grassroots players who were talented and determined to take up careers in football :

“We found out that majority of the talented players we have in Nigeria are people who do not have persons that could sponsor or invest in them. It is to this effect that the Elite Sports Investment decided to sponsor this trial to select the best. We decided to put together our resources, to help them,” Tyungu said.

 

According to him, the selected players will be camped in Portugal for further training, before the clubs in the partnership will be invited to make their selections.

 

He said that clubs in the partnership are: AC Milan of Italy, AS Monaco of France and Sporting Club Olhanense, adding that the clubs were waiting to admit the players.

 

Tyungu stated that the organisation hopes to bring U-12 players together, groom them and take them on a tour of Europe where they can be fixed into football academies.

 

The director also noted that they were expected to submit the final report of the trial to the clubs by May 12.

 

He said the essence of the trial was to groom more talents, especially at the grassroots, and give them the opportunity to build their careers outside the country.

 

Modou Lamin Beyai