MTN Soccer Academy: Cote D’ivoire, others express interest

The Managing Director of Optimum Media Prime (OMP), organizers of the MTN Soccer Academy Reality Show, Mr Ken Ashigbey has disclosed that African countries like Cote D’ivoire, Uganda, Kenya and other African countries have expressed interest to participate in the reality show in future.

According to him, the reality show which is in its third edition ever since it was incepted has generated an overwhelming interest to the extent that other countries are yearning to come onboard to showcase their football talents.

“As it stands now, this will take some time because there are no logistics in place to take more young and upcoming footballers from other countries to come and exhibit their talents here,” he stated.

Mr Ashigbey was addressing journalists at the MTN Soccer Academy House at Ridge in Accra during a post eviction press conference.

“We are still considering how we are going to put the necessary structures in place to house additional number of contestants in the subsequent editions,” he emphasized.

Last Sunday’s episode of this year’s competition between Ghana and Nigeria saw the exit of yet another Nigerian, Obadan Anderson, team mate number 10 from the MTN Soccer Academy House.

The Metro TV/OMP/MTN Soccer Academy TV Reality Show has now been established as an annual event for young Ghanaians between the ages of 17-20 years from the various regions of Ghana to showcase their skills and knowledge in football to a TV audience, thus, unearthing talents for Ghana.

The event seeks to bring to the public knowledge, the abundance of soccer talents in Ghana and Africa, and the need to set up schemes similar to the above to catch them young.

This year’s event has further been expanded, thus, includes 7 Nigerians and 7 Ghanaians aged 17 years.

Having spent a month in the Soccer Academy House, the boys have undergone rigorous training in football as well as personality grooming, as the event also seeks to build the players into marketable brands.

BY WILLIAM BEEKO