The Chance
Friday 4 March 2011 13:04, UK
James Riach tells the story of the inaugural 'Chance' programme and the benefits for the Nike Academy.
Eight youngsters given chance to play for Nike Academy
After thousands of applications and days of intensive trials, eight talented youngsters have been selected for next season's Nike Academy through 'The Chance' programme. From 41 nations across the globe, players established in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia competed for a once in a lifetime opportunity to earn a place with the Nike Academy next season in a bid to be spotted and get offered a contract with a professional club. 75,000 contenders applied, creating pages on social networking sites and doing their utmost to be noticed. From trials in each country, 100 were selected to come to the UK in January to prove their worth. After three days of punishing drills, decisive training matches and an 11 versus 11 game, the Nike Academy coaches chose their final eight from 32 who they believed had the best potential to go forward and earn a professional deal in the future. Top-class coaches such as Arsene Wenger and Guus Hiddink took time to cast their eyes over the potential stars, while players like Rafael van der Vaart and ex-luminary Luis Figo also lent their expertise Tomas Rogic (Australia), Mustapha Taline (France), Fabio Tonini (Belgium), Reyaad Pieterse (South Africa), Jonathan King (South Africa) and Seon-Min Moon (South Korea) made it through to the final cut, as did UK-based Tobi Amokeodo and Titi Accam. This is only the beginning for those lucky enough to have been selected for the Nike Academy - they have worked incredibly hard to be given 'The Chance' - but there is more required of them.Worldwide
It was the first time Nike had laid out the worldwide programme of scouring all corners of the globe for talent, and the inaugural process was a roaring success. Nike Academy director Huw Jennings admits the level of competition was extremely tough, but is delighted with how the process panned out. "I thought it was an extraordinary undertaking which went really well," he said. "It was a very tough competition for all concerned, I thought the standard was very high and we are very pleased with the eight who made it through.
"It was a massive thing and the largest programme of its kind that Nike had ever been involved in. "There was a terrific response from football as a whole - the number of people who attended from the world of football was terrific. "You've got people like Wenger, Hiddink, Figo, Van der Vaart, (Giovanni) Van Bronckhorst and a clutch of players from Arsenal, Fulham and others. "When you've got that group of iconic stars around the place it's inspirational. Particularly when you've got some of the guys coming from townships in South Africa and deepest South America. "For them to come to England and have the chance to see these guys, to have the chance to talk to them, dine with them, the chance to have your training watched by Wenger and Hiddink, going to Wembley, it was a really terrific experience." With so many budding talents desperate to earn a place through 'The Chance', it was also an extremely gruelling process for the Nike Academy coaches who had to decide the players worthy of a place in the final eight. The standard on offer was exceptionally high, and Huw Jennings was looking for a level of football maturity and individual quality as well as a spark. He added: "You've got players who I think have high quality levels but who have perhaps not had the opportunities in their own countries. We've given them a chance and I expect them to feature strongly. "We sat down two or three times with the staff collectively and talked about the quality of the players and the criteria we were looking for. Fundamentally we needed people who we thought - with full-time professional training - in 12 months could earn a professional contract - either in the UK or in their home countries. "Having an element of football maturity was key. Also having individual quality was important. "The final eight emerged more straightforward than I thought they might do. Because the standard was really very high, there was a group of players that did things very well but didn't do them consistently enough during the week. "The eight that we selected had been excellent throughout - the game really sorted that group out. Until you go 11 v 11 you don't know how they are going to contribute. "It was a tall order to show your quality but we think the ones that did deserved to go through." UK talents Tobi Amokeodo, 18, and Titi Accam, 20, shone through and will be accompanied by another crop of players who have yet to be selected - with 18 more to be scouted for next term's Nike Academy squad. Huw Jennings remarked: "You've got Tobi Amokeodo who's a really strong front-runner, a leader of the line with real pace and a direct approach. "Titi Accam has got really great close control, can beat players for fun and can deliver crosses, he can get goals as well. Those are the type of things that stand out." Both Amokoeodo and Accam are delighted to have got through 'The Chance' and are eagerly anticipating their future path. Striker Amokoeodo, who likens himself to Didier Drogba, said: "It's been really good, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity for me that I didn't actually think would come my way. "In September I was put forward to go to the UK trials and I went there not sure what to expect, I thought I'd just give it a try. I managed to do well and to represent the UK feels great. Meeting all the professionals, learning stuff from them - I never thought that would happen. "My highlight was before the actual finals when I got to train with Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon, I think that helped me the most. The final was one of the best experiences of my life.
