Three days into the screening exercise for Enyimba U-15 and U-20 teams, the club’s Board Member, Ex Int’l Uche Okechukwu “Gentle Giant” and the club’s Youth Team Manager, Raymond Ebede has expressed optimism of discovering talents who would in the near future become stars.
Reacting on day three of the programme instituted by the Club Chairman, Kanu ‘Papilo’ Nwankwo to fortify the youth teams system with the view of producing talented players, the former Fenerbarche FC of Turkey defender said he was pleased with the turn out and quality of talent on display believing that at the end of the exercise exceptional talents would be discovered.
“It’s been a good one, I was only here yesterday and this is my second day at the screening and am pleased with the turn out and talents on display.
“Am hoping we can find quality young players cause I believe in grassroots. We have them here and there, it’s just a question of discovering them and that’s the essence of this exercise.
“I have seen some players here yesterday and today and as you know when I was at their age we played in same manner, hopefully at the end we would be able to get players like in our days.
In his own reaction, the clubs Youth Team Manager, Mr Ebede said the turn out has been impressive.
“We had about 70 of them on the first day and it doubled the following day.
“Although we are pruning them down and we intend to first cut down to at least 40-50 before we get them into the sizable number required to make the team.
“I must say that South East have been known for producing young and exciting talents and am not surprised at the plethora of young talents we are seeing here.
“We are hopeful that at the end of the exercise, we would be able to discover the next Kanus, Okochas, Uche Okechukwus among many others.
Recall that the Club Chairman, Kanu Nwankwo had inaugurated a committee to oversee the On-going Screening Exercise into the clubs youth teams.
This was made known in a letter signed by the Sporting Director Ifeanyi Ekweme.
The members include Ex Super Eagles international And former Captain of the Club Obinna Nwaneri, Alongside Coach Chijioke Osuagwu and First team Coaches ; Coach Lawrence Ukaegbu, Coach Iheanyichukwu Azuike , Coach Chukwu Igwe and Coach Emeka Precious Uzoma.
The committee members were charged to bring their experience to bear in order to achieve the set goal of the program which is to integrate young talented players into the club’s Youth Teams.
The On-going 5 day Screening Exercise which commenced on Monday August 4, 2023 is expected to end on Friday September 8, 2023 at the Abia State Polytechnic School Field, Aba.
