Izuchukwu OkosiScouting programme called The Showcase will help African youngsters ready to make great strides in football to impress eight Spanish clubs in Egypt. Disclosing this to Prime Business Africa’s IZUCHUKWU OKOSI in an exclusive interview in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of ‘The Showcase’, MARC BAUTISCA, who is in Nigeria for a Scouting programme to discover talented Nigerian footballers, noted that academy players make up the largest demographics for the project and would need a structure from owners to blossom.
Excerpts.
Could you tell us what The Showcase project is all about?
‘The Showcase’ is a project we do to recruit players around the world. I’m impressed by the quality of talents that I’ve seen so far. Some of them play on football fields that are not good yet their talents shone through.
At the Showcase, which is in the second season, we work with eight Spanish clubs and for one week, they are in facilities this time in Egypt (first edition was held in Madrid, Spain).
The Spanish clubs are: Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Celta Vigo, Valladolid, Oviedo, Albacete, Rayo Majadahonda and Cultural Leonesa.
At the end of the week, they have to select at least one player from each club. It depends on each club’s methodology and philosophy.
What has been your impression about the quality of talents that you have discovered since your arrival?
March 15th was our first day of the Scouting programme and I’ve been amazed by the talents we have seen so far. I have seen players who don’t play on good football pitches. They play on bad pitches yet they are so good.
I saw players who can literally play in the Real Betis second team. The talents here are really good.
This sounds promising. So what are those qualities that the Spanish clubs are looking forward to seeing in the players you unearth?
Being Spanish football, they look forward to technical players and African players, they have this handicap that they are normally strong, and fast. But if they find these combinations between technique and physicality, then it’s very good for them.
The Showcase is in its second edition. This year’s event will hold in Egypt, but where was the first instalment held?
We used the facilities of the Spanish Football national team in the first edition and we had players from Nigeria, The Gambia, Senegal, Ethiopia and some other countries.
For this year which holds in Cairo, Egypt, in August (7th – 18th), we are collaborating with the Egyptian Sports Ministry. They help us a lot when it comes to visas and so the players are guaranteed to get there.
In terms of structure and organization of football academies in Nigeria, what has been your observations and impression?
Like I said, beyond having the requisite talent, having a good structure is imperative. It costs a lot to put these structures together. This year’s programme could cost lots of money.
In Europe, every day, the organization of the clubs in the first teams, they have the time they train, what time they have physios, and each player has different plans. We are looking for players who are not just talented but strong mentally and fight through problems they have in their careers.
There are players that feel depressed when they don’t play games so we are on the lookout for players who are mentally strong and want to overcome and fight for their places.
Not many Nigerian players have strutted their talents in Real Betis but we have two notable names: Finidi George and Victor Ikpeba. Are they still remembered fondly at Real Betis?
Oh yes. In fact just yesterday we spoke about them, especially Finidi George who scored some brilliant goals for the club.
I only watched them as a little boy back in the 90s but they both left great impressions, especially George who stayed a bit longer than Victor.
READ ALSO: Why ‘The Showcase’ Is In Africa For Talents – Spanish Football Entrepreneur, Marc Bautista
Most upcoming African players have hopes of playing in England. But do you feel the Spanish leagues are better in terms of the development of young players?
In England, football is different from Spain. Originally in England, they are more open to signing African players because their football are physical and African players are known for that.
But nowadays, with Spanish football as well, it’s becoming more physical and important not just being technically good but at the same time, African players are improving on the technical side.
So the interest of Spanish clubs in signing African players is high because of the combination of these two things.
In Spain, it is difficult to find Spanish players that have both physical and technical attributes. It’s either they have one and not the other. But African players have a combination of both and Spanish clubs are interested in these.
What is the next step after the conclusion of your programmes in Lagos and Ogun states?
We will be in Jos, Plateau state and also in the city of Bauchi. Then we shall be back in Lagos very soon, possibly after the elections have been concluded to look at more players.
Alright. It’s a pleasure speaking with you. Hopefully, we shall get more updates when you return from your trips.
Oh yes, definitely. It’s a pleasure speaking with you as well. See you soon.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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