Guardian

ORGANISERS of the Edwin Clark U-18 football tournament has expressed satisfaction at the turn out of coaches and scouts, who stormed the Uyo, venue in search of players for their teams.

Among the coaches was Super Eagles former Chief Coach, Samson Siasia, who disclosed that it did not take him much time to discover several players that can fit into the various national teams.

Siasia, a technical partner to the organisers of the tournament aimed at honouring elder statesman, Edwin Clarke, showered encomium on the government and Akwa Ibom State people for their hospitality throughout the duration of the championship.

“I am really impressed with the talents I saw here. It was a confirmation that the national teams will not lack the raw materials if we properly guide the quality of players I saw here. I am sure that the players we have seen in this tournament have all it takes to pick a starting in the various national teams,” he noted.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) chairman of chairmen, Effiong Johnson, who represented the federation during the tournament, praised the organisers of the championship for contributing towards football development in the country, adding that the Edwin Clark Championship has helped in exposing the abundance of skill and soccer artistry of the participating teams.

Effiong, who is also the Akwa-Ibom State FA chairman, assured that he would recommend some of the players to the technical committee of the federation for trials with the various national teams, adding that the number of club coaches, who stormed the championship to scout for talent has proved that its product will be meaningfully engaged in Nigerian football in the future.

“I enjoyed the tournament and would urge the organisers and the state government to give the people of this state more of this tournament,” he said.

In the same vein, Aniete Dickson, Director of Sports, who represented the State Commissioner for Sports, said the state government was glad to identify with anything associated with Clark, adding, “we are happy that a tournament of this nature to honour an elder statesman is held in my state.

“ Our amiable governor is sports loving and ready to host more of this competition. We are always ready to give the players and officials the usual hospitality this state is known for.”