Football Life
Episode 7: Registration for the Future
After years of training in Benin United’s Youth Academy, it was time for the next big step. The academy had partnered with a National Talent Registration Program that allowed young players to officially register for a chance to join professional teams. This was the gateway to playing professional football.
The Registration Program
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) U-18 Talent Registration Program was designed to help youth players get scouted by local and international clubs. The process involved:
Filling out player details (name, age, nationality, position, and more).
Choosing preferred clubs (teams they wanted to join).
Selecting sponsorships (brands that might support them).
Explaining their motivation for becoming a footballer.
Playing in an evaluation match where scouts and coaches watched.
Registration Forms
Remi Iloh's Registration
Full Name: Sean Perfect Remi Iloh
Age: 15
Nationality: Nigeria 🇳🇬
Preferred Position: Attacking Midfielder (CAM) / Forward (ST)
Former Team: Benin United Youth Academy
Team He Wants to Join: Enyimba FC or a European club
Sponsors: Nike, Adidas, or a Nigerian sportswear brand
Reason for Becoming a Footballer:
"Football changed my life. I used to be overweight, laughed at, and doubted. But through hard work, I lost weight, improved, and became one of the best players in my academy. I want to inspire others and prove that anything is possible if you don’t give up. My dream is to play for my country and become one of the greatest footballers ever."
Samuel Ajayi's Registration
Full Name: Samuel Ayodeji Ajayi
Age: 15
Nationality: Nigeria 🇳🇬
Preferred Position: Right Winger (RW) / Left Winger (LW)
Former Team: Benin United Youth Academy
Team He Wants to Join: Kano Pillars, Ajax, or Barcelona
Sponsors: Puma, Nike
Reason for Becoming a Footballer:
"Football is my passion. The feeling of dribbling past defenders and creating magic on the pitch is what I live for. I want to play at the highest level, make my family proud, and show that Nigerian wingers are among the best in the world."
Félix’s Registration
Full Name: Félix Gonzalez Martinez
Age: 15
Nationality: Spain 🇪🇸
Preferred Position: Central Midfielder (CM)
Former Team: Benin United Youth Academy
Team He Wants to Join: Villarreal, Real Madrid, or any La Liga team
Sponsors: Adidas, Joma
Reason for Becoming a Footballer:
"Football is an art, and I want to be the artist. I love controlling the game, delivering precise passes, and making my teammates better. My dream is to play in La Liga and represent my country on the biggest stage."
The Evaluation Match
After registration, all players had to prove their skills in a 90-minute match where scouts from different clubs and sponsors watched. It was their chance to shine and take the next step toward professional football.
Would Remi, Samuel, and Félix impress the scouts?
Their journey was just beginning.
Football Life
Episode 8: The Evaluation Match
After registering for the NFF U-18 Talent Registration Program, Remi, Samuel, and Félix faced their biggest challenge yet—a 90-minute evaluation match. Scouts from local and international clubs, as well as sponsors like Nike, Adidas, and Puma, were in the stands. This was their moment to prove they belonged at the professional level.
Match Setup
The registered players were divided into two teams:
Team A (Remi’s team)
Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Peter
RB: Ade
CBs: Hassan, Daniel
LB: Chinedu
CMs: Félix, Ibrahim
CAM: Remi
RW: Samuel
LW: Michael
ST: Bolaji
Team B (Opponents)
Formation: 4-2-3-1
CAM: A highly-rated attacking midfielder named Bashir, known for his dribbling skills.
ST: A tall, strong striker named Musa, who had already received interest from European clubs.
First Half: Nerves & Struggles
The match kicked off at a fast pace. Team B dominated possession early on, with Bashir controlling the midfield and Musa bullying defenders. In the 10th minute, Musa received a cross and headed the ball past Peter. 0-1.
Remi, Samuel, and Félix struggled to get into the game. The pressure was high, and every mistake felt costly. In the 25th minute, Remi tried to dribble past two players but lost the ball, leading to a counterattack. Luckily, Hassan cleared the danger.
In the 32nd minute, Félix finally made an impact. He intercepted a pass and played a perfect long ball to Samuel on the right wing. Samuel sprinted past his defender, cut inside, and shot—but the keeper saved it.
Halftime score: Team A 0-1 Team B
Second Half: The Comeback
Coach gave a simple instruction at halftime: "Show them why you’re here."
50th Minute:
Félix started controlling the midfield, spreading passes to create chances. In the 55th minute, he played a through ball to Remi, who was one-on-one with the keeper. Remi took a deep breath, faked a shot, and then chipped it over the keeper. Goal! 1-1.
65th Minute:
Samuel, frustrated with the opposing fullback constantly stopping him, finally took him on. He nutmegged the defender, sprinted past another, and delivered a low cross. Bolaji tapped it in. 2-1 Team A.
80th Minute:
Team B pressed hard, trying to equalize. Their winger cut inside and took a shot—but Peter made an incredible save.
85th Minute:
Remi won a free kick outside the box. He stepped up, curled it around the wall, and buried it in the top corner. The scouts in the stands started writing notes. 3-1 Team A.
Final Score: Team A 3-1 Team B.
Post-Match: The Scouts Take Notice
After the match, players were called one by one to speak with scouts. Remi, Samuel, and Félix all got approached by club representatives.
A scout from Enyimba FC asked Remi, “Do you see yourself playing in the Nigerian league before moving to Europe?”
A Barcelona scout asked Samuel, “How do you feel about training in Spain?”
Félix was told by a Villarreal coach, “Your passing is special. We will be in touch.”
As they left the field, they realized this was just the beginning. The dream was starting to feel real.
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