The trip to the UK to bring modern day football management and technique to the Plateau
Up close and personal with the chairman of First Choice Sports Management Company Mr. Adedeji Oshin on the benefit of the United Kingdom trip of four Nigeria Nationwide League to establish partnership with some notable clubs in English football.
Speaking with Felele247.com.ng his WhatsApp Messenger, he disclosed the impact of the trip, which is bringing modern day football business and techniques to Plateau State and Nigeria as whole
“The idea of this trip is to seek partnership from the foreign clubs, partners such as marketing, endorsement, on ground scouting and possibly players exchange for our young footballers. Don’t forget each of these foreign clubs have huge budget and they have invested so much on kids from age 6 up to 16yrs.
During this trip, we visited some top football clubs that have huge budget for youth development such as Manchester City Football Club, MK Dons, Peterborough Football Club, Sheffield United Football Club and more visits to Birmingham Football Club and Coventry City FC as well.
“Visits to these clubs gives us First hand idea on how to set up a twenty first century football academy, what age and type of players to recruit among many others”
This trip has opened our eye to the fact that we are 15 yrs behind the western countries when it comes to football development. Although we can not totally write off the effort of those at the helm of football in the country but I strongly believe there is a need to do more in the area of coaches development by way of training and re-training while the need to regulate football academy is of high essence.
“The message is very simple and clear, we can’t leave the football development to the hand of government alone, we need to do more, create synergy with each others, support the union (NFF, NNL, NLO)we all belong to and, ensure we stick to the rules of fair play.
