Coach Harps On Development Of Football Academies

The Head Coach, Salamson Football Academy, Ayo Salami, has suggested that Nigeria should concentrate on the building and developing of academy instead of scouting for players in hopeless places.

The proprietor of the Lagos-based academy told newsmen that the state of football at present in the country lacks monitoring and players actual age verification.

The coach said that under an academy, players would be properly monitored to confirm and record their proper age and their other necessary data.

“Rather than going round looking for players, we should have an academy where the players would be kept in close or open camp for proper monitoring.

“Parents that have their child or ward in the academy, should also be supportive and contribute immensely in making them reach the greater height they want to achieve,” he said.

According to Salami it would also be easy for the players in academy to combine football with their education, saying that it serves as an added advantage for children in academies.

He said that with adequate resources and the players kept together for long, there would be no reason why they would not perform better.

“Football is scientific; in this academy, we try as much as we can to counsel the players in this aspect, even as we monitor their activities,” he said.

Salami said that under close monitoring and supervision, U-15 players should be made to graduate to U-17 to determine the improvement in such players.