NewHope Naija scouting football tournament lights up Lagos

NewHope Naija scouting football tournament lights up Lagos

Lagos was set alive with the inaugural NewHope Naija Scouting Football Tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, with a vibrant Chinese cultural funfair.

Over 150 emerging talents from 12 top football academies in Lagos and Ijebu-Ode showcased their skills in front of more than 10 European and Chinese scouts.

Chen Yaosheng, President of the Nationwide League One (NLO) club, NewHope Naija Football Club, expressed his passion about the three-day programme.

"My interest in Nigeria's grassroots football spans nearly a decade. Football is hugely popular and people are passionate about it. I started with charity work, but now I run a team in the NLO. NewHope Naija FC has U19 and U23 squads based in Ijebu-Ode.

"This scouting programme aims to provide opportunities for talented players. We brought in nine European scouts and some from China. Based on what I've seen so far, I believe many talents will be discovered."

Henry Ubogu, consultant to NewHope Naija FC and CEO of Henry 707 Sport Limited, shared with the media: "With NewHope Naija FC's structure, we believe we can create a global scouting platform that will produce the next generation of stars like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Paul Onuachu. We plan to hold this event twice a year."

"Our second edition is scheduled for the summer transfer window. The aim of the NewHope Naija Scouting Football Tournament, is to become Nigeria's pioneer football event."

"We are presenting top Lagos academies to scouts and directors from elite European clubs, including Zulte Waregem (Belgium), SK Slavia Praha (Czech Republic), and FC Porto (Portugal).

"There will be a grand prize of ₦500,000 for the winner, along with awards for the runner-up, MVP, and Best Goalkeeper."

James Adebayo, the Coordinator of the event stressed further, "The 12 clubs were chosen based on merit, recognising the value the NewHope Naija Football Scouting Tournament platform offers, leaving them with no option but to participate. We intend to hold this event in various regions across Nigeria and encourage more clubs to utilise the platform. The prizes for the winning team and awards serve as tokens of appreciation for individual talents and the team's dedication."

Roy Rudonja, scout for FC Koper of Slovenia, shared his thoughts: "The teams we've seen are quite good, and the organisation of the event is excellent. I look forward to discovering Nigeria's emerging talents and the quality they can bring. Developing top players takes time, but structures in European clubs and the common English language make adaptation easier for many Nigerian players."