Guardian

NEWLY crowned Pepsi Football Academy (PFA) best player, Chigozie Mba has said his dream is to become world celebrated football stars, like Argentine forward, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal.

Pepsi’s grassroots football development initiative through the Football Academy received a massive boost at the weekend as Mba was selected for a two-year full scholarship at Brooke House College in United Kingdom.

The selection process, which took place at Agege Stadium, Lagos entailed rigorous exercise from field skill display, ball intelligence to general comportment on and off the field.

Two other Pepsi Academy youngsters, Falana Oladayo and Obi Chukwuma were selected as first and second runners-up to be on standby in case for any reasons Mba is unable to travel for the scholarship. Mba becomes the 13th winner of the Pepsi Football Academy UK scholarship, which was established in 2006. Michael Oluwatosin who is presently plying his trade in the Portuguese league was the first recipient of the scholarship.

Speaking with The Guardian at the occasion, Mba said his aim was to hit the top in soccer saying: “I always have a dream that I will become a celebrated football star one day and I am working towards it. For now, I like to posses the ball the way Messi does and shoot like Ronaldo. That is what I have been practicing on the pitch and I pray it works out for me.”

Consultant to Pepsi Football Academy, Mr. Iain Nelson said: “Pepsi was proud of what it had achieved through the Academy in terms of youth development in Nigeria.”

According to him, about 143 students drawn from all the training centres went through series of trials for the scholarship selection out of which, 20 made it to Lagos for the final selection.

Director of Pepsi Football Academy, Kasimawo Laloko said the objective of Pepsi in sponsoring the Football Academy had not only been met, but totally fulfilled, noting that the Academy could only build on the successes of the past 20 years by expanding its scope and improve on what it is currently doing that has brought much success.

Three other students were picked for trials in clubs in Greece and Asec Mimosa of Cote D’Ivoire.