MAILANTARKI PRE-SCOUTING FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT: AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In the build-up to the razzmatazz football fiesta in Gombe, the ambience surrounding football airspace in the centre of the North-East was thick with high expectations. Football fans were expectant of the array of promising young talents who will be all out to flaunt their prodigious skills that will offer them a lifetime prospect of been selected for the scouting tournament, a tournament that promises to mould them for a professional stint in Europe. The fans were not disappointed. 

The objective of the tournament, as summarised by the affable Honourable Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, the President of the Mailantarki Care Academy and the sole sponsor of the scouting expedition, is to give young football talents across the northern parts of the country the opportunity to play in Europe. A predominant majority of Nigerians playing in European leagues are from the other parts of the country. Teams from Gombe, Nasarawa, Kano, Bauchi and Yobe States flooded Gombe with a couple of goals: To get their most endowed players selected for the main scouting tournament and to get a shot at the cash and other assortment of tantalising prizes lined up by Honourable Mailantarki. 

For four days ardent fans packed the Gombe Township Stadium as the young players displayed their competitive talents with gusto, as the technical team led by Coach Manu Garba, OON/MFR carried out the selection. At the end, over 70 players were selected, these players will remain in Gombe for a week-long camping before the advent of the main scouting tournament kicking off from 24th October. International football scouts from England and other European countries will be in Gombe for the exercise. 

The final match of the tournament capped a tantalising football event, Mailantarki Football Academy ran away with the winners’ trophy, beating FC Sergio from Bauchi. Apart from the display of aptitude by the players, the match official need to be praised. Football referees in Gombe have really came of age, their understanding and implementation of Laws of the Game was on the high during the tournament. 

The biggest cheer goes to Honourable Khamisu Mailantarki, without whose passion, benevolence and philanthropy the event could not be possible. He is a well-known politician, a one-time member of the National Assembly, but he was firm in his stance: He is doing this to discover and nurture young talents for professionalism in Europe.