Kwara Football Academy, KFA is set to stage the biggest scouting program in Africa, the programme which is tagged Kwara State street soccer and scouting tournament is sponsored by the Kwara State Government in partnership with Sportiqo Africa PTY LTD.

KFA is one of the leading football academies in Africa, the academy provides platform for young aspiring footballers to combine academics with football and at inception in 2005 it is the first of its kind in Nigeria.

The Scouting tournament which will kick start from 4th – 10th January, 2020 is aimed at identifying talented young players, providing a team for them not only in the local league but also in Europe. Also, the tournament is designed towards addressing the local community problems like crime, drug abuse and other socio – economical affairs.

Meanwhile, the tournament will comprises of six teams from four states within the country; Lagos, Kaduna, Abuja and Enugu and Kwara Football Academy team A &B

Speaking ahead of the commencement of the tournament, The Technical Adviser of Kwara Football Academy, Former Nigeria International Coach Sam Elijah. ( M.O.N) who described the tournament as a rare opportunity for young players in Kwara State .

“The tournament is a good development for the academy and Kwarans. It is an opportunity we have been hoping for to discover talent and expose them.”

He continued by disclosing the quality of the championship, stating the difference between it and the previous scouting programmes.

“It is a rare opportunity not just a scouting program where agents pick players to clubs.”

“The Chairman, Sports Director and Head Coach of the Lithuania team is coming to discover talents and take them to Europe directly.”

However, he revealed the preparation of Kwara Football Academy for the tournament and his confidence of discovering talents in the programme.

“We started preparation after the Christmas break and we didn’t consider the festival periods with the continuity of training even on New Year’s Eve.”

“Great players are discovered in the grassroot and i believe many players would be scouted at least 5- 10 players in the tournament.”

The academy is known to hosting big personalities since inception. In the past, the academy had hosted English Premier league side Tottenham’s Manager , Jose Mourinho, Former English Football Association Chairman, Former CAF president- Issa Hayatou ,and other notable scouts, Ex Players and Football administrators across the world

Other notable personalities expected at the tournament include; the representatives of Lithuania side, Kauno Zalgiris Chairman Eimantas Puras, Manager, Cibulskas Gintautas and Head Scouting/ Academy Coach, Garastas Rukas. alongside four football scouts from Spain and England.

  Football, KFA, Kwara State