*….Ndudi Edede,Founder/CEO,Dreamland FA.The aim and desire of the maiden edition of the Dreamland Football Scouting tournament in Abia State tagged ‘2025 Dreamland-Abia State U-19 Cup’ is to give players the platform they desire which they lack to excel in Football and its a way of giving back to the society. This was the assurance given by Mr Ndudi Edede, Founder/CEO,Dreamland FA,Abuja, while speaking exclusively to ssimedia247.com.ng at the Enyimba International Stadium,Aba,Abia State, venue of the scouting tournament where many talented players have been discovered. Mr Ndudi said “this tournament is a way of giving back to the society as we have always done this programme in other places and we deemed it fit to come back and organise one to discover more Kanu Nwankwos,Uche Okechukwus and Samuel Chukwuezes.Many talented players abound here but don’t have the platform to push them,so this is an idea of giving them a platform to excell in Football”.The CEO,Dreamland FA,who has been in Football Development for over two decades, said though the standard of this tournament is not what is expected but it is because its the 1st edition which will improve subsequently. He said ” judging by my own standards of organisation and play, this is not yet there and it’s because we’re just starting here but definitely by the next edition in March 2026, the standard will be high and we will see the level of competition among the teams to take part”.On the effort put in place to bring top scouts from Europe especially now that the country has been labelled a Country of Particular Concern, he maintained that “bringing the Chief Scouts for Africa from Athletico Madrid,PAU FC,France andFC Sion of Switzerland was not easy especially because of the tag ‘Country of Particular Interest’ but because of the confidence and believe they have in me, they came to Nigeria for the first time and thank God they have seen array of talents which they’ve picked and we’ll follow up on that and ensure the players get good deals like their predecessors discovered in similar tournaments like this who are already plying their trades in Hungary,Scotland and other European countries”.The Director,Dreamland-Abia State U-19 Cup, announced that the scouts have spoken to some top clubs which they will soon have a zoom meeting with as they have rated the standard high. He equally commended the Governor of Abia State, Sir Alex Otti,OFR, for the wonderful job his doing in the state generally and sports in particular. “I want to commend the Governor for the excellent job he’s doing in creating a New Abia and in the Sports sector, we are collaborating with the Commissioner for Sports in taking the Sport sector in Abia State to a new height”.Mr Ndudi further appreciated everyone that has contributed to the success of the tournament: Secretary LOC, Michael Ogbonna, Coordinator,Samuel Agbai,Media personnel,coaches and players.Credit: SSI Media: Nathaniel Mobolade,Enyimba International Stadium,Aba.
