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By Amaechi Agbo

The FC Bayern Youth Cup Nigeria 2023 came to an end in Enugu on Saturday with 10 players selected for the World Youth Championship later in October this year.

The 3rd edition of the competition in Nigeria saw talented players aged 15 years or below showcase their football talents as Bayern Munich legend and 1990 World Cup winner, Johannes “Hans” Pflügler, who is the Chief Scouter, watched with keen interest to select the best players from the pool.

In a media interaction on Friday prior to the final, Johannes”Hans” Pflügler explained the rational behind the tournament. He noted that apart from football dimension which offers the players an opportunity to prove themselves and go to Europe to enhance their careers, the tournament offers cultural exchange between Nigeria and Germany

“The tournament is an opportunity to first of all give them an opportunity here to prove themselves here in Nigeria and those chosen will go to Europe. It is a once in life opportunity to experience European football first hand, the training conditions, the staff we have over there and ultimately that they improve themselves.

“This is a cultural exchange through football which is very important for us not only from sporting perspective but also from human angle,” he said.

Explain on how the competition is organized, the, the FC Bayern International Manager, Francisco Quinones, said the competition bis simultaneously held in seven countries across the world.

Adding that after national championship, a pool of ten best players are selected to represent Nigeria at the World Youth Tournament in Germany.

“For us it is alot of work because the same match you watch here is also taking place in seven other countries across the world. Players we identify within our project we keep them, we do a follow up with them, the coaches, club.

“We have staff dedicated to giving a call every couple of weeks, to know how the players are evolving, what the situation is and preparing everything in Germany so that we can get everyone the best experience as possible and the best learning that they can get from us.

“The countries vary and one way of selecting them is sporting consideration and in the other hand, we chose countries where we can have solid partners that are capable of organising and setting up not only the tournament but the follow up in actually bringing the boys to Germany. We support and contact embassies.

“This year we are going to have Team USA, Mexico, Argentina, Morocco (is a new addition to the tournament), South Africa and Team Germany. We are going to have Team China this year and then of course, Nigeria,” hé stated

The Youth Cup is the oldest Youth tournament run by a club in the world. No other club is running such a competition, with sporting perspective and not just being a commercial tournament.

There are three Africa teams that are showing up. Last year Togo and Nigeria participated whereas Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco are participating in this year’s.

A lot of players have been nurtured and they have gone on to sign professional football careers in England and across Europe.

Once the organisers identify the best player, they have a four-year plan to support them academically, in mentorship and on the pitch.
Daniel Francis is testament to this. The organisers found him in 2019, played at Abuja qualifiers, played National Finals in Lagos, come November, he played for the U-17 World Cups.

“He moved on to the Bayern World Squad which is another project for the best 16-19 years old. He captained the World Squad and eventually got a contract from Bayern Munich. He is the first Nigeria kid who signed directly from the street of Nigeria.

“This how much influence and impact that this project can bring about. We have over 25 players, since we started, who have become professional players in Europe. That is how the collaboration is helping kids in Nigeria, Africa and around the world. It is a fantastic project.

“The plan is to select ten players who will be playing in a 7v7 format but we also select a backup ten. The World Finals is in October, a of lot things can happen between now and October – Visa, injuries (we don’t hope for that) we hope that the best ten players will attend, but when these things happen, we hope to be able to replace the players,” Victor Edeh, the COUNTRY Director of VOE Foundation which partners of FC Bayern in organising the competition, said.”

In the final, Lagos Select defeated R&K Football Academy of Kano to win the FC Bayern Youth Cup Nigeria 2023.

Below is the list of players selected for the 2023 Bayern Munich Youth Cup in Germany I October

Muhammed Danlami- midfield (team combine)

Muhammed Sadiq – striker (Ablaze Academy)

Saviour Mathias – midfield (Abuja)

Ogbodo Chidozie -striker (Purple Krown)

Onuorah Divine- Goalkeeper (Purple Krown)

Bashir Idris – Defender ( Hearts Academy)

Muhammed Mustapha – midfield (Hearts)

Suleiman Abubakar – Defender (Hearts Academy)

Ifeanyi Anthony – Defender (Enugu)

Aman Sabiu – Defender ( R&K Academy)