PFA Begins Talent Hunt Across Nigeria’s Geo-political Zones

An Abuja-based football academy, Prestige Football Academy (PFA), has commenced a nationwide talent hunt aimed at discovering young talented footballers for the country’s national teams and foreign clubs.

President of the Academy, Uchendu Nwabara, who disclosed said the talent hunt would be executed through Global Grassroots Football Tournament (GGFT) and it would be for players between 16 and 19 years of age.

Nwabara stated that the zonal event would commence in Port Harcourt (South-South zone) from April 17 and end in Bauchi (North-East zone), on May 5, while the grand finale would hold in Abuja from May 23 to May 26.

“GGFT is a project that creates opportunities for young talented players to participate in football scouting tournaments and competitions at regional and state levels,” Nwabara said.

He explained that the best players who meet the specification of certain foreign football clubs would be sponsored and signed up immediately to play for those clubs, from where they can advance their career.

“We have capable regional coordinators that will handle the assignment in every region,” Nwabara said.

According to him, the preliminary screening would be conducted at local governments and state level, while the semifinals would hold at the state representing each of the geopolitical zones with the grand finale slated for Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, where both local and foreign football club representatives as well as scouts from Africa and beyond will be in attendance.

The Regional Chief Coordinator of the event, Elkanah Ombugala, Nigerian ex-International, emphasised that the tournament is aimed at showcasing talented Nigerian football players, saying it would promote efficient and effective football scouting without bias or favour.