Lobi Stars, a Nigerian football club, has taken a significant step in nurturing young talent by initiating a screening process for its U-17 team. The directive for this exercise was issued by the Vice Chairman of the club, Dominic Iorfa, in Makurdi on a recent Saturday.
With the screening set to take place at McCarthy Stadium on January 8, 2024, at 7 am, coaches and young players are eagerly anticipated to converge for the selection process. This move comes in the wake of the club’s decision to form a youth team, with Emmanuel Jekelle assuming the role of director, supported by Japheth Agaadi as head coach and Benjamin Jacobs as assistant coach. The team will also have Terfa Abaya as the physical trainer and Jijir Ahungwa as the goalkeeper trainer.
Lobi Stars’ youth team is geared up to participate in the inaugural edition of the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League) youth league, which is slated to kick off on February 1, 2024. The club finds itself placed in Group B alongside Kwara United, Niger Tornadoes, and Plateau United. The games for this grouping are scheduled to be hosted at the Lafia City Stadium.
This move by Lobi Stars reflects a commitment to not only developing young talent but also investing in the future of Nigerian football. It’s a testament to the club’s proactive approach in harnessing and honing the potential of budding footballers. With the broader context of youth football in Nigeria, the spotlight now turns to the promising talent that will emerge from these initiatives, potentially shaping the landscape of Nigerian football in the years to come.
