BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Island Stars Football Academy of Lagos have resumed training to begin early preparations ahead of Germany’s most international youth soccer tournament July 22, 2024, in Hamburg.
This was disclosed by the founder of the academy, Victor Akinmoyo recently while speaking about the academy programmes for 2023/2024 season.
Addressing the journalists in Lagos, Akinmoyo who is impressed with the progress and expansion of the academy in the last few years disclosed that Island Stars Football Academy would participate in Laola Cup in Germany and embark on Dubai training tour later in the year.
“I am pleased to inform the the public, our parents and guardians that Island Stars Football Academy would feature in Laola Cup in Germany.The tournament would involve different age categories and we are going to involve in the competition as part of our programmes this year.
“Let me say that Laola Cup would help our kids to have international exposure and secondly it would help the academy to exchange programmes with other participating academies that are coming from other countries,”he said.
Commenting on Dubai tour, Akinmoyo confirmed that the tour is part of their programmes for new season adding that kids and coaches are aware of the tour.He noted that only the kids or players whose parents are interested would be registered for the tour.
“Of course the academy would go to Dubai, United Arab Emirate this year for trianing tour but it is for the kids that meet the requirements would embark on the tour with the selected coaches.It is another way of exposing our kids to new environment and this tour would bring the best out of our kids because they would like to impress their coaches and come back bome with good stories and experience,”he said.
The football administrator also said the academy has other programmes that would benefit the kids and described his team one of the best academy in Nigeria that has structure and robust programmes that always keep their players busy throughout the year.
Collaborating Akinmoyo views, head coach of the academy, Leonard Oshiyemi also explained that more than 200 kids ranging from age 4 to 18 years old are registered in the academy saying that the coaching crew led by humble self are ready for the new season and challenges ahead.
He however revealed that more than 15 trianed coaches are in the academy pointed that any kid that register with the academy would be well trained, drilled and taught about the modern day football.
He said both theory and practicals were carried out by the coaches during the training hours and commended the management and coaching crew for their commitment to the academy since inception.
Meanwhile Akinmoyo has disclosed that the academy has partnered with ex international, Ogenyi Onazi and a member of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Chike Iloanusi in area of exchanging programmes.
He revealed that their relationship with the duo would help the academy to participate in the national underaged football tournaments and get a market for their players in Europe.
In other to have market for their kids in Britain and other part of Europe, Akinmoyo said the academy has gone ahead to partner with UKschools.com and expressed satisfaction with the relationship with the British school.