Uchenna Onoja, an attacking midfielder with Aspire Football Academy, Adazi Ani, Anambra State, has emerged the top pick as the FC Bayern Youth Cup tournament came to a fitting close Sunday inside the Awka City Stadium, Completesports.com reports.
Onoja is joined by nine other youngsters who impressed the duo of FC Bayern scouts, Christopher Loch and Hans Pflugler. And they have been selected as members of a Nigerian team that will travel to Germanay to participate in the 7-A-Side FC Bayern Youth competition.
They include Sadiq Mohammed, Adobe Tumisho, Mohammed Adams Abubakar, Nzube Mbazue (of Aspire Football Academy), Ibrahim Ayinde, Oladayo Oladele, Obiozor Franklin, Alabi Lateef and Abdul Fatai Omale.
Organisers of the FC Bayern Youth Cup selected the outstanding players at the end of the thrilling final between defending champions, FC Heart of Kano and Kid Sports FC, Lagos.
After an enthralling showing by both sides, the title holders FC Hearts successfully defended their crown by winning 7-6 on penalties after it ended 1-1 inside ehe regulation time.
The matches of the two-day tournament in Awka we’re staged on a 7-A-Side format.
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Christopher Loch, FC Bayern Chief Scout, explains the criteria used in selecting the players out of over 100 players from 10 teams that participated in the tournament.
“First, we looked at the players’ skills, their decisions on and off the ball,” Loch said.
“We also looked at their reactions after breaking attack, support to teammates, ability to communicate and availability to second balls.
“Equally, precision shooting ability of the players and getting to advantage positions were also key”.
Victor Obinna Edeh, FC Bayern Youth Cup Tournament, Nigeria, Director, told Completesports.com that another ten players were selected as standby team.
“The first 10 players are our first team. The second set of 10 players will serve as standby team,” Obinna said.
“But we will process their travel documents to Germany for the FC Bayern Youth Tournament at Allianz Arena.
“We don’t want a situation where injury, sickness or visa related issues can deplete our team, hence we are processing travel documents for all the 20 players,” the VOE Foundation Chief Executive Officer explained.
However, a delighted Onoja, told Completesports.com that right from the onset, he remained confident of making the final cut for the Allianz Arena showpiece.
“On the night preceding the final selection, my mother wanted us to pray so that God can favour me to make the final list,” the 2021 product of Comprehensive School, Ogidi, Anambra State recalled when Completespirts.com spoke with him.
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“Somehow, she slept off. But when she woke up, she wasn’t sure. I told her to cheer up that I dreamt that I was going to Germany.
“I remember carrying my traveling bag and telling her that I’m my way to Germany.
“So, it’s a dream come true and I’m not going to relax. I will continue to work hard to ensure that it wasn’t just going to Germany but achieving my objective of going to Germany”.
Certificates were presented to the selected 20 standout players of the 2022 FC Bayern Youth Cup tournament, while renowned transport company, GUO Group of Companies, presented Sovnenirs to the lucky 20 youngsters.
