The Jagaban Football Scouts Tournament held in Lagos gave 17 talented players, discovered in the recently concluded competition, the opportunity to go on tour of Europe and America for them to be exposed to high level football matches and take steps towards becoming professional players. The 8-team scouting tournament in Lagos was hosted by four top football scouts at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena. After four grueling days of hard work, stress and expectation, more than 150 players were asked to showcase their talents, with foreign scouts watching closely. Those who made the cut were Emmanuel Stephen (Mavlon), Gabriel Chidi (Mavlon), Ochedikwu Caleb (Mavlon), Adelami Shola (Ikorodu City), Onyema Emmanuel (Ikorodu City) and Waliu Ojetoye (Ikorodu City). Also selected were Seun Lawal (36 Lion), Enyiazu Ebuka (36 Lion), Kehinde Ibrahim (36 Lion), Gift Apama (The Charlesann), Emmanuel Chukwu (The Charlesann), Agbede Hassan (Dino SC), Ajani Adegbola (Smart City) and Broad City’s Bakare Ayomide. U-16 trio of Egbedokun Samson (Mavlon), Cisse Mamady (36 Lion) and Alex John (36 Lion) are being sent abroad for youth development programmes.
<strong><em>Jagaban Cup Organizing Committee Chairman, Wale Joseph</em></strong>
The selected players are expected to showcase their talents in the teams of Belgium, Czech Republic, Latvia, Russia, Bulgaria, Poland, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Venezuela. Processing of visas and other documents began immediately. Speaking after the selected players were announced to the media, experienced journalist and Jagaban Cup Organizing Committee Chairman, Wale Joseph, said that the event was one of the football observation competitions held in Nigeria in the past. He went on to praise the professionalism and transparency of the Scouts. He also praised the Lagos State Football Association, led by Hajj Olawale Gafar Liameed, for giving grassroots teams the opportunity to participate in the scouting competitions and of course giving youths a platform to be discovered and known.