Godwin Enakhena, veteran sports broadcaster and chairman, Nigerian National League side, MFM Football Club, has charged the 21 youngsters currently in camp in the ongoing MTN Football Scholars to put every challenge behind them and succeed with the initiative.
Enakhena who visited the Teslim Balogun Camp of the Season 4 of the programme took some hours to interact with the participants while advising them to be focused on their dream and come better as an individual.
“I will not deceive you; MTN has played its own role and God has given you the divine favour to be part of this year’s finalists of this laudable scheme. It is now left for you to play your own part; don’t fail yourself, your family, your sponsor-MTN and ultimately the country. This is the best opportunity one can have at this stage. Please guide it jealously, with consistent hard work, discipline and strive for excellence. With these, the sky is your limit,” he said.
Meanwhile, the participants have continued to express their joy and aspiration to be the part of this year’s finalist. Abdumalik Yahaya, who was selected from Abuja centre, said the would try his best to come out successful in the forthcoming SAT examination.
“I have been trying my best to study well for the exam. Because it is not only about football, you must be good academically. I see this is an opportunity to have a better life, a chance to win scholarship, not only to go and study abroad, but also a great opportunity to combine my education with playing football, ” he said.
MTN Football Scholar is a youth programme aimed at discovering talents who can combine active football and education at the tertiary level within a scholarship scheme. The project, which is open to students within the age bracket of 15 and 18, is a platform for the discovery, nurture and exposure of budding soccer talents who will subsequently enjoy access to scholarship opportunities to soccer oriented universities in the United States and linkages with other international soccer academies.
The month-long camp prepares students for the SAT and examinations and training under top Nigerian national team personnel and coaches from top American soccer academies. Those who succeed in crossing this stage would play a final football competition in the watchful eyes of international soccer scouts to select top winners.
The 21 students currently in camp will seat for their SAT in October this year where the eventual successful candidates will secure scholarship to study in American Universities. Meanwhile, 21 students which include Awolo Ikenna, Edemba Ifeanyi, Oganla Moyosore and Ocheofije Richard of the first edition, Precious Ozoh, Oyeniyi Adebare, Figbe Prosper, Tapshak Augustine, Ekeh Shadrack and Sampson Isaac of the second edition and eleven others from the third edition are currently in various universities in the US and Canada studying for various degrees.
