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Babawo States Impediments To Northern Players’ Success Abroad And Defines What Exceptional Player Is
Renowned FIFA Licensed Agent, Mohamed Babawo Adamu, popularly known as Babawo Lecturer, has given some qualities needed from players by European clubsides and reasons why players from the Northern part of Nigeria are outnumbered by their counterparts from the Southern part of this Country.
Babawo Lecturer made this known during a special scouting programme in Kano.
Babawo, who led visiting football representatives from Europe and Africa to the commercial city some days back, said clubs from Spain, Lithuania and Egypt were searching for wingers, strikers, central defenders and exceptional central midfielders.
He said: “Truth be told. I’m impressed with the academies I saw on ground today, and I saw about four or five different players that I know can make it in Europe without taking a long period of time,” Babawo said.
He explained that scouts are particularly interested in players capable of adapting quickly to European football.
Agent Babawo reiterates: “A player that will travel to Europe without needing a long time to polish, a player that will go to Europe and adapt immediately — that is what we mean by exceptional,” he said.
Babawo also expressed confidence in the talent available in Northern Nigeria but identified poor orientation and impatience as challenges affecting the progression of some young players.
“As far as I’m concerned, the northern part of Nigeria has some of the most talented players,” he said.
“But the issue we’re having with northern players is sometimes orientation. Secondly, some of them are not patient. You will see a player today in Team A, tomorrow you see him in another team.”
He said efforts were being made to educate players, coaches and academy owners about career development and the need for patience when pursuing opportunities in European football.
The FIFA agent, also praised the improvement in sporting facilities in Kano since his last visit in 2019, saying the development had exceeded his expectations.
He added that representatives of the visiting foreign clubs were impressed by the quality of football they had witnessed.
“They are 100 per cent satisfied because they told me they were not even expecting to see what they saw in Kano. ”
The former JUTH FC captain, commended AZuba Football Club and its CEO for partnering in the scouting programme, describing the initiative as an opportunity for young footballers to showcase their talents before international clubs.
He also urged the government to support similar programmes, saying international scouting initiatives could provide career opportunities for young Nigerians and contribute to youth empowerment.
