as Gov Diri’s 5th International scouting exercise enters day three
The 5th Governor Diri international scouting program on Tuesday enters day two with exciting football and display of skills from the lads within the age of fourteen to twenty years.
The scouts numbering about ten from Sweden, Lithuania, Turkey and Finland have been in Yenagoa for the scouting programme and coaching clinic in the last few days.
Assessing the exercise after day two of the program, some of the scouts hailed Governor Douye Diri and the organizers for the sustainability of the tournament and the international scouting program initiated over the years.
Swedish international Glenn Stahl foreign Football Scout said Bayelsa is blessed with abundance of raw talents, stating that the international scouting program/coaching clinic was a smart initiative from the organizers of the spectacle.
According to him, educating the local coaches would help them to instill fresh knowledge in the players in order for them to be acquainted with modern techniques to become better gaffers.
A retired Lithuanian goalkeeper, Mindaugas Malinauskas noted that he was impressed with the young talents spotted so far in the ongoing scouting exercise, maintaining that he is hopeful of seeing these lads excel outside Bayelsa in the future.
He noted that the coaching clinic has added value to the tournament and the lives of grassroots coaches in the State, stressing that sports development at the grassroots is the only therapy for talent discovery.
Also, Chief Executive Officer of Tristone Sports/OTP of Finland, Mr. Kelvin Etemike urged the players to see the scouting exercise as a life changing opportunity.
An elated Director General of Prosperity Cup, Mr. Ono Akpe in an interview, said the essence of the coaching clinic and the scouting program was to give local coaches and players a productive life through sports.
Mr.Akpe while outlining the importance of scouting to young players, explained that players who were scouted last year in the tournament have traveled abroad for greener pastures.
He appreciated the governor, Senator Douye Diri for giving sports a special place since he assumed office as the state’s helmsman, adding that the organizers of the tournament are working round the clock to host another coaching clinic by the end of this year.
Action will continue in the international scouting program on Wednesday at 8am at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa as the exercise enters day three.
