Proprietor of AS Racine FC, Emma Ibru (left), Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr and former national team striker, Victor Agali (right), with the Ovie of Agbarha-Otor, Richard Oghenevwogaga Ebelle, Okorefe 1, during the Victor Agali\/AS Racine U-17 Football Scouting tournament in Delta State<br \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
For 23 years, Emmanuel Ibru has been managing AS Racine Football Academy, one of the foremost Nigerian youth teams providing young footballers for the Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles and the U-23 Olympics team. He is also the Proprietor of AS Racine Football Club, which features in the amateur division.Last week, Ibru partnered with former Super Eagles striker, Victor Agali, to organise a youth football scouting tournament in Agbarha-Otor, a town in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. The tournament tagged Victor Agali\/AS Racine U-17 Grassroots Football Scouting Tournaments 2021 attracted thousands of young footballers from Ughelli and Warri in Delta State, as well as aspiring footballers from Bayelsa State.<\/p>\n
For seven days, the players displayed their God-given talent before football scouts and managers. The presence of Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, added glamour to the tournament.<\/p>\n
Apart from going home with various cash prizes, players and officials of the participating 12 teams were satisfied with the hospitality accorded them by the people of Agbarha-Otor.<\/p>\n
With the enthusiasm that greeted the football scouting tournament in Agbarha-Otor still fresh in the mind of the people, Ibru says he has concluded plans to site a big football academy in the town.<\/p>\n
Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Ibru, a former board member of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) says his plan is to make Agbarha-Otor the hub of Nigeria grassroots football.<\/p>\n
\u201cInitially, the Victor Agali\/AS Racine U-17 Grassroots Football Scouting Tournament 2021 was slated for Ughelli Township stadium, but we were told to pay N1.2 million to use the facility. We considered the amount too high for a grassroots tournament and decided to move the tournament to Ibru College in Agbarha-Otor. The people were so happy, and the tournament was a huge success. Gernot Rohr took photograph with the Ovie of Agbarha-Otor and he has promised to come next year for the second edition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ibru said his football academy is not just looking for players to sell, \u201cbut to have a pool of young players with their proper age. It will help our national team coaches in picking players for the Golden Eaglets and the Flying Eagles.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the end of the tournament, four players comprising two from Warri, one from Ughelli and one from Bayelsa made it to AS Racine Football Academy based in Badagry, Lagos State.<\/p>\n
Great Avengers FC of Warri defeated 11 Planners FC of Ughelli in the final to grab the N150,000 prize money. The Ughelli team got N100,000.<\/p>\n
Other teams that featured in the youth tournament were Kingdom Stars of Bayelsa, Golden Friends FC, Maro11 Speedsters FC and AS Racine.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n
For 23 years, Emmanuel Ibru has been managing AS Racine Football Academy, one of the foremost Nigerian youth teams providing young footballers for the Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles and the U-23 Olympics team. He is also the Proprietor of AS Racine Football Club, which features in the amateur division. Last week, Ibru partnered with former<\/p>\n