By Joan Nnenna Iwuchukwu
Former Federal House of Representatives member, Gombe, Hon. Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki said there are so many talents that can play like Messi, Ronaldo and other top footballers in the northern parts of the country that are yet to be discovered.
He stated this in an exclusive interview with precisepodt.ng after his team, Mailantarki Care Football Club participated in a scouting programme at the Area 3 Pitch, Abuja today.
According to him, “In the northern parts of the country, there are so many things we are not doing well. If we start doing them, we will discover many good players. Whenever people want to talk about the north, they mention Boko Haram when actually there are many Messi and Ronaldos there…”
Hon. Kamisu who is very passionate about talent discovery and nurturing them, said he is into the round leather game which he started one year ago, because he wants to remove boys from the street and give them a future, that is why he brought in his brother and U17 World Cup winning coach, Manu Garba to come help out.
He said although he is not shying away from the business aspect of the game but his priority is to scout the boys and nurture them to stardom as well as play a part in the national team
When asked whether he will contest for the NFF presidency, he simply said, “My target is not the NFF for now, my targets are two. One is to support the youth and the second is the business aspect even though it is in the long run. We want to see our players playing in Europe..”
The former Lawmaker from Home State further disclosed that he wants a situation whereby players from his state can compete favourably with players from other parts of the country, thereby having such players representing the state.
Recalled that the under 19 team won the Dana Cup and also just returned from Denmark where they defeated all the teams scoring 49 goals and conceeding just one goal. They are also in the Nigerian National League, NNL playoff for the elite league.
