OFFICIALS representing small clubs in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) have continued their ongoing tour of UK football sides with a visit to English League One clubside Burton Albion yesterday.
Organised as part of a programme to take on board best practices and introduce them to Nigeria, the tour has seen the Nigerian delegation already visit Sheffield United and MK Dons.
This group, representing 365 small football clubs in Nigeria, is touring the UK looking to find out more about the British game and to export best practice back to Africa.
Yesterday, Burton Albion welcomed the football visitors to the Pirelli Stadium when the team played Bradford City in the Papa John's Trophy. After the game the group was introduced to Albion players Victor Adeboyejo and Deji Oshilaja both of whom have Nigerian roots and they also met team manager Dino Maamria and club chairman Ben Robinson.
One of the visitors, Shola Ogunnowo, said: “We are happy to be here and see the tremendous development of this football club. We are also delighted that the chairman has welcomed us as representatives of Nigerian lower league clubs.
“We have been told about player development from ages seven, eight, nine which is very encouraging and the way the Academy operates and how the players progress to the senior men’s team which is very encouraging. Nigeria has the highest number of trophies in age group competitions in Fifa, which shows how many people want to play football and the huge potential.”
