Ranchi: The 2018 Fifa World Cup has reached its feverish pitch and so is the excitement among sponsors and companies in the state to look out for local talents with the hopes to make India a great footballing nation. Recently, the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) has roped in two Nigerian coaches to hunt and train talented tribal footballers for the sports academy jointly run by Jharkhand government and CCL.The appointment of AFC A licenced Nigerian coaches – Abiodun Kolawole Matins and Uzoma Chidozie Ejiogu alias Uzo – comes as the academy’s management aims to produce more footballers for the state and the country. With an aim and a mission to win gold medals at the next 2022 Olympics, the two coaches are currently nurturing young the footballers and training them to be full-time, disciplined footballers.Speaking with TOI, Vikrant Malhan, CCL’s security officer, said, “Out of the 1.89 lakh children who were shortlisted to get a chance to train with us, we had narrowed it down to 170 children. There are 20 parameters that the children have to go through to get a chance to train with us.”While talking about the future of Indian football, Matins, a professional footballer from Nigeria, said India has the potential to make a mark the world of football. “Many people do not recognise India as a football country as of now. This is the reason why I am working with these kids and pushing their potential to the limits,” he said. “These children are so young that it is easy for us to nurture and help them bring out their inherent skills. It is a continuous process and I will definitely help take them to the top.”Matins, who was a defender in his national team, trains the boys’ team at the academy. He maintains a strict schedule his students while also adding a bit of leisure activities to their routine. The children are also pursuing their academic studies from a school in Hotwar itself.The girls team at the academy are with Uzo. The girls selected also went through the same 20-parameter tests and training sessions just like the boys to be selected for the academy. Uzo told TOI, “I am glad that I am getting the chance to train these children right from the grass-roots level. Just like a structure, these girls also need a strong and solid foundation in order to reach a place in the world of football.”Narrating his experience of working with the team, the utility-position Nigerian player added, “I love coaching and I love teaching. Nothing will stop me from turning these young footballers into stars soon.”On Nigeria’s World Cup match Iceland on Friday, Uzo said, “There are no underdogs anymore to be honest. Iceland, three years ago, was not a footballing nation. On Thursday night, we all witnessed Argentina lose to a country like Croatia.” He added, “Who would’ve imagined that with all the big names that Argentina has, they would go down that way. As football is an unpredictable game, I really can’t say as to how Nigeria will play tonight but just hope that they play well.”Martins, on the other hand, said, “What is happening in the World Cup now is that the big countries are not on a par with our expectations. The recent example is Argentina’s match with Croatia.” He added, “Many countries, like Nigeria, want to come up and earn big names just like Argentina and Brazil. I think they will.”

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