Chairman of Abraysport FC Mr Abdullahi Yusuf has concluded plans to invite foreign football scouts to Ilorin through a scouting tournament named Super Talent Football Scouting Tournament (STFST).

The tournament is organized by First Class Sports Marketing (FCSM) in conjunction with Abraysports International, an organization led by Mr. Abdullahi Yusuf.

Ahead of the tournament, Mr. Abdullahi revealed that he is organizing this tournament to give back to the state by exposing the grassroots players to foreign opportunities.

He, however, confirmed that the process of selection of players will not be influenced.

“Football is business, and a lot of talents are wasting in the grassroots. I want to give back to the state by developing football in Kwara State.”

“The scouts are professionals that can identify talented players, and nobody will impose or recommend a player for them to pick.

Super Talent Football Scouting Tournament is an avenue for talented grassroots players in the country to showcase their talents and to secure a deal abroad.

The tournament begins on 14 – 18 June 2021, with all the matches to be played at the Kwara State Stadium.

A total of ten teams are expected to participate in the tournament.

All is set for the Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort Scouting and Coaching programme to go down from Saturday 1st of May through Friday 7th.

According to the organisers, the initiative was borne out of the corporate vision in nurturing football talents to the stardom and in fulfillment of its contractual agreement with Malaga CF of Spain.

The twin-packed project will be centered around scouting excercise for talented footballers and coaching clinic for coaches who want to give their careers a giant leap.

Malaga CF Academy Head Coach Martinez Trueba Marcus Antonio and Diego Martin; a FIFA certified football agent are expected to oversee the 7-day event.

While Monday 3rd of May to Tuesday 4th has been set aside for the Coaching Education Programme, the scouting programme has been scheduled to come up between Wednesday May 5th and Thursday 6th at Ilaji Hotels and Resort, Akanran, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Other notable instructors billed for the event are the former Super Eagles Coach; Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, ex- internationals like, Nduka Ugbade, Mutiu Adepoju and Gateway United Gaffer, Akeem Busari.

A sum amount of N10,500 is expected to be paid by interested players to register for the programme while intending coaches are to pay N20,000 as their commitment fee.

According to the organiser feeding and accommodation will be made free for the coaches for the two days, while accommodation alone will be free for players for the two screening days.

It’s instructive to know that Ilaji Hotels and Resort will be responsible for sponsorship of successful players and will also be providing certificate of participation for coaches.

Participants have been advised to pay into this Bank Account:6669682012 of First City Monument Bank with the name Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort.

As the forthcoming Africa U-17 Cup of Nations begins in Morocco later this month, top football scouts across African continent are finding it difficult to be given accreditation in order to carry out scouting responsibilities as directed by their various employers; in this case, Football clubs.

Reliably, renowned football scouts in Africa who contacted the Head of DGS office for Football and Development of CAF, SAMIRA OUNAS in a bid to officially apply for the tournament’s accreditation were shocked when she expressly told them Confederation of Africa, CAF would not permit their ilks but preference will be given to European football scouts.

According to ‘’on the record’’ sources; SAMIRA OUNAS have the gumption to ridicule two of the African scouts who are nationals of Senegal and Benin republic respectively.

‘’I humbly placed a call to her regarding CAF’s accreditation for interested football scouts and she openly said, we are not making arrangements for anyone coming from Africa except those outside this continent.

“I even tried to know the rationale behind such an irresponsible decision but she rudely hung up the call along the lines and never picked thereafter’’. Diouf Diara recounted disappointedly.

Also sharing his disappointing experience with the DGS office for Football and Development of CAF was Saliu Mohammed, who bemoaned the unprofessional attitude of SAMIRA OUNAS while describing as unfit to have headed such a vital position in CAF.

‘’From the stead of a club scout, I engaged her on phone in respect to getting accreditation for the Under 17 tournaments in Morocco; she overtly and repeatedly told me African scouts are not going to be allowed to be part of this edition of CAF U-17 Championship and implicitly said, her office would only entertain European football scouts.

‘’What is more insanely annoying was her chutzpah to say African scouts and football agents are barred from discharging their duties when the event kicks off 13th of March, 2021 but considered giving European scouts accreditation in an African football tourney’’ he lamentedly explained.

As a reputable media organization, we gathered Egyptian- SAMIRA OUNAS, has rich curriculum vitae; having worked at different international organizations.

This is a lady who studied Taxation, Commerce and International Law in France; however, her terrible idiosyncrasy while dealing with the issue of diplomacy, makes one question the racistic resolve by not allowing African scouts and football agents to be accredited for the African under 17 Nations Cup in Morocco, except European scouts.

What is more disgusting and saddening about her decision to irresponsibly restrict African scouts and Football Agents is that, the same Confederation of Africa Football (CAF), accredited a huge number of African scouts at the just concluded CAF Under 20 African Cup of Nations in Mauritania.