Catch Them Young: Ex-Football Internationals Drill Students of Headstart Private School, Isolo on Soccer Techniques
As part of a crusade to “catch them young” and a talent hunt initiative, ex-football internationals at the youth level drilled students from Headstart Private School, Isolo, Lagos, on the rudiments and techniques of the round leather game on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
The training session, held in a conducive environment, involved participants aged 5 to 15. The former U-17 soccer legends—Ayodeji Williams (Chairman of WAM International Football Academy) and Festus Odini—emphasized the need for both private and government sectors to support grassroots football as a way to nurture young talents during the three-hour session.
Speaking after the training, Ayodeji Williams stated that the initiative focused on early talent development, with schools in local communities being the ideal platform. He described football as a global sport and noted that the talent hunt at Headstart had already revealed potential future stars for WAM International Football Academy.
Williams stressed the importance of continuity in training the school’s students, expressing confidence that the institution could produce talents capable of rising through Nigeria’s national team cadres. While acknowledging the school’s existing facilities, he called for upgrades to the pitch and the provision of jerseys and other essential kits. He urged parents and school management to encourage children in extracurricular activities, particularly soccer, assuring them of the academy’s readiness to provide technical support.
Festus Odini, another former U-17 star, expressed satisfaction with the children’s performance and confirmed that raw talents were identified during the session. He urged the school’s management to invest more in sports, particularly football, emphasizing that consistent training would mold world-class players. Odini also advised the students to remain focused, embrace perseverance, and endure challenges as keys to success in their careers, noting that combining football with education ensures a bright future.
Anthony Ehis (also known as Olajuwon), Director of Sports at WAM International Football Academy, praised the impressive turnout of students. He dismissed the outdated notion that footballers are school dropouts, stressing that education and sports complement each other for a successful career.
Nkiru Okafor, Head of Human Resources at Headstart Private School, commended the ex-internationals for their support in helping students understand soccer. She reiterated the school’s commitment to assisting aspiring young footballers and revealed that football had been integrated into the curriculum to foster career development. Okafor described WAM Academy’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative as a morale booster for the school and its students.
Anthony Ohis Oluwaseun, the school’s Director of Sports, praised the veterans for sharing their expertise and affirmed Headstart’s dedication to grooming young talents. He stated that the presence of ex-internationals demonstrated the school’s commitment to providing top-tier training for students pursuing football careers. With raw talents already identified, he expressed confidence in the ex-internationals’ ability to nurture them, assuring full institutional support.
Over 40 students participated in the training and applauded the academy for teaching them new techniques. They also urged the school administration to provide necessary equipment to further enhance their skills in the beautiful game.