The head of scouting, Nikita Poliakov has charged players participating in Governor Douye Diri’s Prosperity Cup competition to give their best disclosing that they were in Nigeria to identify talents they will begin a playing career with in Europe.
Speaking during the competition at the Sampson Siasia Complex at the weekend, Poliakov said they were in Bayelsa State to scout for players who will be combining football and education in one of the best football academies in Europe. He said they were in the state t for a scouting trials for players of under 17 players in Bayelsa State.
Commending the organizers of the competition for involving foreign scouts this time around, the secretary of the Bayelsa State Football Association, Diseye Nwankwe said this years’ edition of the Prosperity Cup has taken another dimension with the involvement of foreign scouts stating that the platform would give opportunity to young Bayelsans to showcase their talents.
Nwankwe said, “With what I have seen so far, I’m optimistic that the prosperity cup will produce players that will soon begin to feed Europeans clubs.
Also, coach of Dream Boys Football Academy of Odi, Dift Edike in his reaction maintained that grassroot football cannot thrive without competitions like the Prosperity Cup adding, that the introduction of scouting program by the organizers has given hope to players and grassroot coaches.
While appreciating governor Douye Diri for financing the tournament Edike noted that he was satisfied with the level of progress made in the prosperity cup so far by various participating teams and players.
Technical advisers of Bayelsa united and member prosperity cup technical committee, Diepreye Teibowei urged the players to make better use of the opportunity provided by the prosperity administration, describing the program as soul lifting to young Bayelsans.
Also, member technical committee of the prosperity cup, Ada Gwegwe said since the creation of Bayelsa state, this is the first time a grassroots competition was getting a global attention as well as attracting foreign scouts from Europe, pointing out that the media has also projected the prosperity.
