By Amaechi Agbo

Coaches of various football clubs and academies participating at the 7th edition of Dreamland/Embassy of Hungary U-19 football championship have been talking tough ahead of the commencement of the tournament on Tuesday, November 12th, 2029 Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

Some of the coaches who spoke to our correspondent at the screening of the participating teams on Monday commended the organisers for a great screening exercise but vowed that they have come to assert themselves in the tournament and leave footprints on Sunday the final day.

According to My Team Africa (MTA) Football Club coach from Enugu state, Aneke Chinedu, his team are in the tournament not only to play in the final but to win the tournament.

Coach Chiendu who praised the organisers for conducting a very transparent and honest screening exercise expressed confidence that his boys are equal to the hurdle ahead.

“We are happy to be here. The distance from our state to the FCT tells you a lot about our passion and commitment to grassroots football development.

“We did not come here to make the numbers. We are here to play in the final and if we play in the final, we are going to lift the cup.

“The cup is not our major target. Our target is to ensure that at the end of the day one or two of our players are selected by the European scouts who are coming to the tournament. And one thing is sure, the higher you go in the competition, the greater your chances of having some of your players picked. So that is our target,” he said.

On his part, coach Karma Obadaya of Chimoosky FC, said the team is in the tournament to make a mark.

He stressed that his target is to lead the boys to the final and while playing down on the trophy which he said is of lesser importance compared with at least one of his players being selected, commended the organisers for a wonderful screening execrise.

“I do not lay emphasis on the trophy, it is a distraction to me, so to say. This is grassroots football which serves as scouting ground for players who distinguished themselves in the field of play.

“Of course the trophy is a motivation so to speak but my primary target is to make sure that my team played a good football such that we will have at least one player selected by the scouts.

“Secondly, I want to commend the organisers for conducting a transparent screening. I am not happy that some of my players were screened out but they did a great job and I commend them.

“We cannot wait for the competition to begin tomorrow,” he said.