Before now, the Coca-Cola football academy managed my veteran football coach, Kashima Laloko and the Kwara State Football Academy were the two foremost football academies that contributed immensely to producing some of Nigeria’s present football stars.
It is on record that the Coca-cola academy with centres across the country nurtured and brought to limelight stars like John Mikel Obi, Peter Osaze Odemwingie, Onyekachi Apam, John Akpala, Elderson Echiejile, Soga Sambo, Bala Ezekiel, Solomon Okoronkwo, Ambrose Vanzekin, Sunday Mba and Nnamdi Odumadi among others.
On its part, the Kwara Football Academy considered by many to be the best organised football academy in the country has also produced notable players who are currently playing for Abubakar Bukola Sarki FC and Kwara United in the Nigeria Professional Football League. While some graduates of the academy like Monday Samuel, Gbenga Arokoyo, Micheal Igbokwe, Kelvin Kpakor, Uchenna Umeh, Ahmed Taoeef, and Tochukwu Ogbuefi are playing for clubs in Europe, others like Obiora Christopher, Lordson Ichull, Wasiu Aere, Kadir Aminu, Stone Ufoma, Abdulraham Bolaji and Chinedu Simon are playing at home for Kwara United and ABS FC Ilorin.
This is one out of the achievements of the above mentioned football academies that the management of the Abuja Football College is out to surpass by putting in place an ultra-modern academy that is poised to provide opportunity for Nigerian youths to maximally exhibit their God’s given talent in football.
Founded in February 2012 by the chairman of HNK Rijeka FC in Croatia and vice-president of Croatia Football Association, Captain Damir Miskovic, the football academy is already making waves in the world of football.
Just recently, U-17 players of the college participated in the 61st edition of the International invitational tournament, Karanka Reveria, in Croatia that took place between June 8 to 16 and emerged champions of the tournament. The college defeated 16 youth teams from five countries around the world to become the first African team to win the trophy.
Apart from winning the championship, the Abuja Football College also won individual prizes. While Saleh Yahaya emerged the Youngest Player of the tournament, Aliu Mohammed and Sadiq Umar won the Most Valuable Player and Highest Goal scorer awards respectively.
In addition, 11 of the players who made the team to Croatia were instantly picked by licensed players scouts and are currently undergoing trials with some of the top clubs in Croatia.
Achieving such a feat in less than two years of its existence called for celebration and that was exactly what the management of the college did on Wednesday in Abuja. An elaborate dinner party which attracted prominent businessmen and football enthusiasts was organised for the victorious players at the Dunes hotel.
The chairman of the college who personally addressed the players commended them for the achievement and urged them to keep up the good work. He also charged the players to take their education seriously because as he said life will have to continue after their football career.
Miskovic said having spent over 30 years doing business in Nigeria, it is his desire to give something back to the society by providing the opportunities for the teeming youths of the country who are talented in football to realise their dreams.
He said ““I want to congratulate you on the success you have just recorded. We are also so happy with the way you conducted yourselves throughout your stay in Croatia. You are indeed worthy ambassadors of Nigeria.
“ I however want to urge you to pay serious attention to your education. You cannot play football forever. I also played football but had to stop when I got injured.
“ We shall help you in your educational pursuit because if you can combine football with education, you will have a better future”.
On his part, one of the college directors, Huseni Garba expressed satisfaction with the performance so far of the academy players and assured that the momentum would be maintained for the benefit of the players, Nigerian clubs and the country’s national teams.
He said “We indeed deserve congratulations. If you look at it Nigeria is blessed with talented players but unfortunately we are not tapping the resources for some obvious reasons. Most of the players are from poor backgrounds and cannot realise their dreams on their own. They are potentials and they are our targets. Those who are less privileged, we want to see how we can develop them, help tap these potentials not for the college alone but for Nigeria in general”.
The college administrator, Mr. Kumbi Titiloye, a former administrator of the Kwara Football Academy Ilorin has brought his wealth of experience to bear on the Abuja Football College. He told Weekly Trust that the Kwara Football Academy may be in a world of its own in Nigeria for now but the Abuja Football College will strive to break new grounds.
He said “We are happy because this tournament is a 61 year old tournament and this is the first time an African team is winning. And most of the present and past football stars across the world took part in this tournament. So for us to win it for the first time is enough for us to be happy. We attended with players that are young not for the purpose of winning but ensuring the same players will be useful to the country in the next ten years”.
One of the academy coaches, Ahmed Ahmed said it was a very exciting experience in Croatia. “It was a wonderful experience for the players and the officials. Before we went to Croatia, we spent one week in Italy where we played four friendly matches out of which we won three and drew one. We are also happy that even as the tournament is 61 years old, we are the first African team to win it. We are grateful to God. Now most of the players have got the necessary international exposure and the sky will be their limit” he said
Alfa Abdullahi who is the captain of the college also expressed happiness. “We all feel very happy because for most of the players, it was their first time to travel outside the country. Personally I am motivated to give my best. I want to play at the highest level both for Nigerian clubs and in Europe”, he said.
There is so much enthusiasm in the air and with the unflinching support coming from the proprietor of the school, Captain Damir Miskovic and other equally committed directors of the college, there seems to be no iota of doubt that the Abuja Football College is indeed ready to keep to its motto by ‘going the extra mile’ in pursuit of excellence in youth football development.
