John Obi Mikel Launches Hunt For Football Stars

Former Chelsea and Nigeria Midfielder John Obi Mikel has launched a talent hunt series. The talent hunt series dubbed “Africa’s Next Football Superstar” seeks to discover young talent so that it can be properly nurtured. The series will be held in three African nations- Nigeria, South Africa, and Algeria.  It is impressive to see such initiatives from successful African footballers. Some young lads from these countries are just about to get an opportunity of a lifetime.

John Obi Mikel is a decorated footballer who has played on the world’s grandest soccer platforms. Right now, he plays for Tianjin Teda in China, as his blissful career nears to a close. He is certainly one of the most decorated African footballers. Among his biggest achievements are winning the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, and winning the African Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 2013. His involvement in bringing up young talent in Africa can certainly yield amazing results.

Kids between the ages of 13 and 16 will be eligible for the series. Five winners will be selected from each of the three countries. They will be tested and narrowed down to nine. The nine young lads will have the privilege of going on an all-expenses-paid trip to the UK. They will get trials with top English clubs for a period spanning two weeks, with a chance to bag a one-year contract with the club’s youth team.

The trials in Nigeria will be held in Lagos on March 15th 2019, Port Harcourt on 18th, and Abuja on 20th. The finals are scheduled for May 2-9 2019.

There is a lot of raw talent in Africa that needs to be nurtured well. Initiatives like these aimed at tapping into young talent will make African nations football powerhouses in the few years to come. The lack of proper training resources and systems is always a major hindrance to budding talent.

The talent hunt will be an annual series. It will give a chance to talented young people to launch their football career. Such chances are always difficult to come by for African youth.