The founder of Imandina Football Academy, Yusuf Saleh Ango, has disclosed that the academy has invited two football scouts from ...
The founder of Imandina Football Academy, Yusuf Saleh Ango, has disclosed that the academy has invited two football scouts from Spain and France to Kaduna to assess emerging talents and identify promising young players for potential opportunities with European football clubs.
Ango made this disclosure while speaking to journalists in Kaduna, explaining that one of the scouts is based in Barcelona, Spain, while the other is from Paris, France.
He said the visit aims to establish a strategic partnership between Imandina Football Academy and the scouts, as well as conduct talent identification and assessment exercises to select outstanding young players with the potential to pursue football careers in Europe.
According to him, the proposed partnership will strengthen the academy’s international connections and create pathways for talented Nigerian youngsters to access opportunities in professional football.
“I brought two football scouts, one from Barcelona, Spain, and the other from Paris, France. They are here to watch the players, assess their abilities and select those with the potential to secure opportunities in Europe,” he said.
Ango emphasised that Imandina Football Academy is open to aspiring footballers from across Nigeria, rather than being restricted to young players from Kaduna State.
He explained that his vision is to provide talented youngsters with opportunities to develop their abilities and pursue their football ambitions, irrespective of their geographical location or background.
Explaining the motivation behind establishing the academy, Ango said his experience of living and playing football in Europe had given him valuable insights into the opportunities available to young Nigerian footballers when they receive appropriate training, guidance and institutional support.
He said his decision to return to Nigeria was driven by a desire to help young people realise their footballing potential, particularly in Kaduna, a state with a notable history of producing accomplished footballers.
Ango cited former Nigerian internationals Tijjani Babangida and Daniel Amokachi as examples of footballers who have achieved prominence, expressing his ambition to contribute to the revival of Kaduna’s reputation as a major centre of football talent development.
According to him, Kaduna’s established footballing heritage informed his decision to establish an academy dedicated to identifying, nurturing and developing young players while connecting them with international scouts and potential opportunities abroad.
“I felt it was important to return to Kaduna, a place renowned for producing footballers in Nigeria, and establish a football academy. Our intention is not to train only players from Kaduna but to support talented youngsters from across the country. We also want to bring scouts here regularly to identify promising players for opportunities with football clubs in different parts of the world,” he said.
Ango disclosed that enrolment at Imandina Football Academy is free, stating that the academy provides talented young players with access to its programme without charging registration or training fees.
He added that aspiring footballers with demonstrable ability could seek admission through referrals from individuals who can introduce them to the academy.
He further stressed that building a successful football career requires discipline, dedication, hard work and a strong support system involving players, their families and other relevant stakeholders.
Ango urged young footballers not to rely exclusively on government intervention to advance their careers, noting that personal commitment, consistent effort and support from those around them are equally important to achieving success.
The academy’s founder reiterated that one of his principal ambitions is to help restore Kaduna’s prominence in Nigerian football by identifying and developing a new generation of players capable of competing at national and international levels.
He said the establishment of Imandina Football Academy, alongside efforts to build relationships with international scouts, represents a significant step towards achieving that ambition.
He added that the academy intends to provide talented youngsters from across Nigeria with access to structured training, opportunities to showcase their abilities and potential pathways into professional football.
Ango expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute to the development of grassroots football, revive Kaduna’s footballing heritage and empower young Nigerians to use their talents to build sustainable futures while potentially representing the country on the international stage.
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