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The future of football in Nigeria could be very bright if
administrators and managers recognize, exploit and harness the abundant young
talents that are available all over the country.

Kasimawo Laloko, the Director of the Pepsi Football Academy,
stated this while reacting to the display of skills by U-13 and U-15 players at
the ongoing Pepsi Festival of Youth. “Nigerian coaches have been often accused
fielding overage players in age grade competitions,” he said. “The Pepsi
Academy Football League and similar grassroots football meets would have been a
fishing ground for young talents but incidentally none of those in charge of
running our football are here. The future of Nigeria football is very bright
only if our football administrators could work extra hard to identify and
harness the abundant young talents in the country.”

The Festival of Youth is a football tournament for the U-13 and U-15 youth
of the Pepsi Football Academy Youth League. At the tournament, youngsters
hopeful of making it big in football displayed their skills to the admiration
of spectators. Sunday Ugor, who was instrumental to the North 1 defeating Lagos
1 by two goals in the first match of the U-13 category, was a delight to watch
as dribbled past opponents with ease.

Other players who impressed fans were David Augustine and Sinte Victor, who
played for West 1 and the Football College respectively. In the first matches
in the U 13 category; North 1 beat Lagos 1 by 2-0, while West 2 lost 1-0 to The
Football College.