COPA Coca-Cola: The Day Football Legends Prep Teens for National Finals

Is there a better way to get ready for tough matches than enjoying a training session with football legends?

Nigerian teens were treated to an inspired football coaching, as Coca-Cola brought together some of Nigeria’s football legends to prepare them for the 2017 COPA Coca-Cola National finals, ahead of their upcoming matches.

COPA Coca-Cola coaching clinics have always been filled with several incredible moments, and the training camp at Lagos provided yet another unforgettable day for young players as it hosted former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, Ex-Super Eagles defender and Manager, Austin Eguavoen and the famous Headmaster, Mutiu Adepoju.

The three ex-international footballers who have all featured in the World Cup for Nigeria, took the young players from Kwara, Osun, Katsina, Kano, Imo, Rivers, Yobe and Abuja through several football drills to enhance their skills.

Austin Eguavoen who was most recently manager of Nigeria national under-23 football team and the former Manager of the Nigerian national football team, appreciated the U-15 football tourney by lauding the efforts of Coca-Cola. He went on to say, “if we had platform like this when we were growing up, we would have done better but even at that we still thank God for what we achieved and now we hope to see these talented young ones do better.”

Famous goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu who made his mark across clubs in Europe took the various young goalkeepers through several goalkeeping techniques skills which will help them improve their techniques on the field of play. “I’m so impressed with the talents we have seen today, their concentration to the training. I can see that this initiative is building future goalkeepers for the country.”

Mutiu Adepoju, who was popularly known as the headmaster during his heydays on the soccer pitch, said he found COPA Coca-Cola as a unique platform to build great players and even encourage education among Nigeria teens.

The teens showed a lot of excitement having such a once in a lifetime opportunity of not just meeting their real-life heroes but having to spend time together to train and have photo sessions.

14-year-old Dauda Hamza from Folsa Academy, Abuja said he will forever remember the awe-inspiring day. “Even though, I was not opportuned to watch these legends during their playing days but, I’m glad to meet them and even learn from their huge experience,” he said.

The eight teams hope to make it to the grand finale on Friday, 23rd of June where the 2017 COPA Coca-Cola champion will emerge in Lagos state, to witness a clash of the titans, as eight champions fight for the trophy.