21st December, 2010
The Director of Pepsi Football Academy, Dr. Kashimawo Laloko says distinguished youngsters of the academy would get scholarships to play and study in the United Kingdom soon.
Laloko, who was excited with the talents on parade during the academy’s festival of youths held in Ogun State, said the students will be exposed to more international competitions both in Nigeria and abroad to test their skills against other youngsters from different parts of the world.
Laloko said this would equip the Pepsi Academy students with the confidence and self-believe required to make a successful career as a professional footballer.
“More Pepsi Academy students will also have the opportunity of enjoying overseas scholarships, which will enable them to play and study in the best schools in the UK,†Laloko said, noting that eight students of the Pepsi Academy are already benefiting from such scholarship in St Bedes College and Brooke House College, both in Britain.
With the successful end to 2010 activities of Pepsi Football Academy, the foremost football cadet school in Nigeria now has its eyes set on more international exposure for the students in the New Year.
The revelation of the final day of the Pepsi Festival of Youth which ended last Thursday at the Pepsi Football College Orile Imo, Ogun State, was 13-year-old Paul Nsofor (no relation of Obinna Nsofor of Super Eagles and West Ham, England) who repeated his feat of last year when he retained his trophy as highest goal scorer and Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the U-13 category.
Nsofor, who is a student of the football college said he has John Mikel Obi, a product of the Pepsi Football Academy, as his role model. “I like the way Mikel plays but I try to push forward whenever I am with the ball even though I am a supporting-striker. That is why I could score goals,†the Pepsi lad said. Nsofor said he would like to play for Barcelona if he has the opportunity for an international football career.
