Revisiting Pepsi Football Academy News

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Revisiting Pepsi Football Academy

By Daily Sports on September 19, 2016

We decided to shift our focus from NFF and its likes this week and bring to the fore, one of the activities of one of the foremost and patriotic corporate citizens that have meaningfully contributed its quota for the development of Nigerian children through football in the nation.

It is no other organisation than 7-UP Bottling Company Nigeria Plc., makers of 7UP and Pepsi brands of soft drinks.

A recap, Pepsi brand successfully sponsored the Nigerian League when it was at the amateur cadre for many years.

The era witnessed tremendous transformation in our domestic league which cut across and touched substantially all the major and minor stakeholders in the round leather sport. In short, it brought so much innovation to the beautiful game. Pepsi/NFA League instituted many workable and motivating monthly awards for players, coaches, referees, clubs and sports journalists.

It promoted the game comprehensively and gave everyone true sense of belonging. The awards for league writers and others were transparently handled by the Panel of Judges vested with the powers to select which reporter or other categories grab the top prize. Pepsi moved the indigenous league forward without much hassle. The common refrain then was Nigerian league is working, Pepsi is working.

The league was well driven, seasons ended without deadlock. It was during the Pepsi/NFA League that highest bidder for the title was stamped out. Referees benefited from the awards and such step brought the best in them. It kept them on their toes. It gave every referee a great sense of belonging to strive harder to ensure optimum performance in his duties knowing fully well that if his sense of judgment fell on the part of honour, automatically his name enters a deserved book of men of integrity. The criterion ensures that any match he performs above board stead him on.

The indigenous league when Pepsi was on the saddle was the better for it. For the records, no Nigerian league sponsor has been able to either equal the high standard and tone Pepsi had set or top it. Sadly, what the fans and sundry have rather witnessed till date is one short change scam or the other by the sponsors and nowadays administrators. What we have seen more these days are situations whereby sponsors and administrators decisively connive to rip off the system, thereby leaving the game wholly traumatized.

The success story of when Pepsi sponsored the Nigeria league would not be incomplete without a good mention of Ian Nelson; a foreign national and staff of Pepsi. It is instructive to note that he maintained strict stance, discipline and firm which made it possible for him to stoutly rebuff the overtures of those nefarious administrators. That was why at the end of the day, his name and the soft drink brand, Pepsi continues to reverberate in football fraternity till today. He took the message deep down as Pepsi soft drink not only became a house hold name amongst football fans across the country but also became the most preferred soft drink that cut across all ages.

When the company suspended its sponsorship of the league, due to some obvious reasons, it went further to inscribe its name in gold as it bought wholesale, the novel idea of the establishment of football school in November 1992 sold it through veteran Coach and administrator, Pius Kashimawo Laloko, and it was first based at the Agege Stadium (courtesy of the Lagos State Sports Council) the initiative secured the total backing of Pepsi in 1994 and has, since then, been named the Pepsi Football Academy. The foremost and preferred in the country, it has truly redefined and shaped the future of academy football in the country and like an old wine, it has continues to get better taste and stronger by the day.

The Pepsi Football Academy, over these odd years like an oak tree has grown into not only the largest and most weighty football school in the country but perhaps the continent and among the well-entrenched in the World.

Today, the Academy comprises over 3,000 registered students aged between 6-18 years and operates throughout the year from about 14 separate training centres, involving about 54 Coaches across the nation. From the above, it shows a far cry from the early days of just 45 students and 3 coaches training at the Agege Stadium Lagos.

Keen followers of the academy will readily tell whoever that cares to listen that it has even surpassed its set vision of personal skills through training and playing in a disciplined environment, each student will acquire skills that are far more important than footballing ability alone. Responsibility, humility, self-confidence, teamwork, inter-personal skills and a positive attitude and disposition will be the hallmark of Pepsi Football Academy students.

Footballing skills. The Pepsi Football Academy provides the most talented and skilled youngsters with the opportunity to progress their career within football. Such students will also contribute to the future success of Nigeria as a footballing nation.

It is obvious that footballers who started their career at the academy include John Obi Mikel, Dominic Chatto, Echiabhi Okodugha, Joseph Akpala, Uwa Elderson Echiéjilé, Conquest Osaroigwe, Soga Sambo and Yinka Adedeji amongst others.

In 2005, the Academy set up a UK scholarship scheme, which has awarded scholarships to over 17 players. The first recipient was Michael Oluwatosin.

To be frank, despite the worsening economic environment in the country, Pepsi has maintained its path with its football academy. They have been solidly there for them.

Recently, the academy concluded its week long retreat for its Coaches and Co-coordinators across the country at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja. The academy through to its imbibed character brought in seasoned resource persons that took the participants on how to teach football in a 21st Century football school.

The very unassuming and suave Marketing Manager of 7-UP Bottling Company Plc was on hand to reassure all fans, stakeholders and friends that it would continue to show full commitment to the good of the game through the Pepsi Football Academy.

One does not need to look too far to feel that impact from the representative of the sponsors as he quickly revealed that since tomorrow belongs to the children, youths and the young ones as leaders, the company would stop at nothing to encourage legitimate endeavours that would enhance their ultimate forward.

Without much ado, Laloko, who is the Director of the football Academy, re-echoed the marching order from his sponsors as he told his Coaches and Co-coordinators about the urgent need for every one of them to brace up accordingly and key into the realities of the time which points to the reinvention of the football academy to steadily come back to its former self in all ramifications.

Laloko took out time to ask the participants to explain each lecture that took place when the lecturer concluded. That afforded him an ample opportunity to get firsthand, the pulse and how far the Coaches and their coordinators understood each lecture topic and how he/she would impact it on the boys. It was educative, informative and enduring as the atmosphere was so conducive for learning and assimilation. The residential retreat saw former Super Eagles technical adviser, and Ogbomosho High Chief, Adegboye Onigbinde on hand for the participants to tap from his rich knowledge in the game.

The participants expressed gratitude to the sponsors, the board and management of the Academy for the organisation of the refresher course which has armed to the teeth as they set out into the field to steadily take on the challenges modern day football academy coaching has placed on their shoulders. They restated that the modern tactics and techniques they learnt would be unleash on the young budding footballers for their good and that of the game.

One would however acknowledge that the sponsor has been steadfast in the area of product development, for instance, it has sustained Pepsi Football Academy since 1994 and it has been likewise in its other products and services.

It has been interesting times in the Nigerian soft drinks market. Seven-Up Bottling Company, the bottlers of the famed Pepsi-Cola brand in Nigeria launched a 60cl bottle for Pepsi and other brands in its stable, including Mirinda, 7-Up and Teem, in what may seem like the opening salvo to a possible cola war. Pepsi’s new 60cl bottle since its entrant in the soft drinks market has done well as the consumers cut across all ages; on such strength therefore, it is safe to say that the giant soft drink company is an all-rounder that continues to touch resoundingly the lives of Nigerians in different and positive ways. I digress.

Pepsi Football Academy provides endowed youngsters the chance to improve their football vocations. The criterion for student membership includes evidence of special skills, characteristics, and a good boldness. The demand for membership is highly competitive. Youngsters apply daily for admission into the academy.

According to Pepsi Football Academy, Eken Divine became an orphan at a tender age and was raised by his uncle, Eken James Okechukwu, registered him at the Aba Pepsi Football Academy in 2013. He is driven by the yearning to repay his uncle and emulate his idol, Osaze Odemwingie.

Record has it also that Nneku Joseph lost his father when he was in SS1 and was raised by his mother who registered him at the Jos Academy in 2010. He is encouraged by the likes of PFA Jos Centre alumnus, Super Eagles captain and Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi.

Pepsi Football Academy has taken in and mentored thousands of young Nigerian football talents including Joseph Yobo and AFCON 2013 hero,Sunday Mba.

It would be recalled that Academy had earlier sponsored two Nigerian teenagers, 15-year-old Eken Divine and 17-year-old Nneku Joseph to Brooke House College, UK. This was as a result of their brilliant showcasing at a selection exercise held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The scholarship it was gathered will see both youngsters study and train to become professional footballers. The UK scholarship scheme – which was introduced in 2005 and 17 fledgling footballers have had the opportunity to study and train in Europe.

Its thumbs up for 7-UP Bottling Company Plc for sustaining the academy till date despite harsh operating environment it finds itself. Forward with PFA!!

•Victor Enyinnaya can be reached via 08055068145 (sms only) or by e-mail via sportzvictor@yahoo.com.au

Source Daily Sports

Posted September 19, 2016