CATCH THEM YOUNG : Ex Football International Drills Students Of Headstart Private School , Isolo On Soccer

 

 

As part of the crusade to catch them young and talent hunt initiative, ex – football Internationals at youth level on Tuesday 10 June 2025, drilled students from Headstart Private School , Isolo Lagos on the rudiments and techniques of the round leather game.

With a conducive environment for soccer training, the participants are between the ages of 5 to 15 and are students of the school.

The former under 17 soccer legends -namely Ayodeji Williams who is the Chairman, WAM International Football Academy and Festus Odini respectively, during a 3-hour training session with the children , stressed the need for both private and government to encourage and support grassroots football as a way to catch them young.

Speaking shortly after a training with the students and pupils from the Isolo based school, Ayodeji affirmed that the initiative was based on how to catch them young and schools within the communities was the best way to go.

 

He said that football has become a global sport being embraced by everyone, saying that the talent hunt at the school has exposed WAM International Football Academy to discover some future football stars .

According to him, continuity is key in the project to train students and pupils of the school, assuring that the school has what it takes to produce budding talents that will rise to the three cadres of the national team.

Ayodeji stressed that the school has some of the facilities to kick start the training but added that the pitch should be upgraded alongside provision of jerseys and other relevant kits for the young talents.

He advised parents and management of the school to encourage the children in the area of extra curriculum activities,mostly as it relates to soccer, pointing out that the Academy is readily available to empower the students technically.

Another former under 17 soccer legend – Festus Odini expressed satisfaction over the performance of the children adding that raw talents were spotted during the first training session with the students.

Odini called on management of the school to invest in sporting activities mostly as it affects soccer, pointing out that continuous training of the children will result to moulding world class footballers.

He further advised the children to be focus , embrace perseverance and endurance as a guide to success in their chosen career , while noting that football mixed with academy equals bright future without regret.

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Also speaking, Director of Sport , WAM International Football Academy, Anthony Ehis, expressed satisfaction over the large turn out the students.

The Sporting Director also known as Olajuwon noted that the turn out was encouraging and impressive to the instructors noting that the era of footballers being described as dropout was over because according to him, education and sport work hand in hand for a successful career in life .

 

Similarly, Head of Human Resources Officer ,, Headstart Private School, Nkiru Okafor commended the ex international for their support towards ensuring that the children understand what soccer entails.

She reiterated management commitment to assist the students who are eager to grow in the game of football, adding that the school wants to explore the game of soccer for the benefit of the students .

She noted that football has become part of the school’s curriculum in furtherance to build a career in the game, whilst reassuring the students that management is ready to provide the needed materials for them to excel.

The Human Resources Officer stated that initiative from WAM International Football Academy ‘s Corporate Social Responsibility was a moral booster for the school and the students towards promoting sport in the community and the nation.

Director of Sport, Headstart Private School , Anthony Ohis Oluwaseun, commended the veterans for impacting knowledge to the students, adding that the school will go all out to groom the young talents.

According to him, the ex international presence in the playground was a clear indication that Headstart Private School is out to give the best training to those who were interested to embrace football as a career.

He assured that with discovery of raw talents from the game of football, the ex international have the capacity to give them the best and the school is in full support to assist them.

Meanwhile a cross section of students numbering over 40 participated in the training exercise , even as they commended the academy for teaching them new techniques in football

They commended management of the school for engaging ex Internationals in the training, calling on the school authority to assist with the needed materials and equipment to enhance their skills in the round leather game