Ukrainian Premier League side FC Rukh Lviv recently snapped up six Nigerian teenage stars from Super Stars Football Academy, Uyo.
They are Prince Chibueze(19), Ugochukwu Chikatara(20), Innocent Odoh(19), Michael Obamina(18), Chukwuemeka Nnabuihie(19), and Ekemini Effiong(18).
The players who put pen to paper on four years contract respectively were scouted by FC Rukh Lviv during the 2019 edition of Super Stars annual scouting tournament in Uyo but have been unable to travel since then due to Covid restrictions.
Reacting to the transfers, the President of Super Stars Football Academy, Hon Victor Apugo said he was confident the players will excel in Europe and will not find it difficult to adapt.
He said: “I’m delighted by the transfers. It has been in the works since 2019 but due to the pandemic they couldn’t travel. The fact that the club came back two years later to request for the players goes to show how talented they are and their value.
“As a club we wish them well and I’m confident they will do well. Our training regime here at Super Stars is European standard so I’m sure they will easily adapt.”
Apugo, who is part of the people behind the success of Nigerian international Samuel Chukwueze, reckoned that the transfers and several other ones are testaments to the quality of talents that abound in his club and reiterated his commitment to nurturing them to maximize their potentials.
“Since our last tournament in 2019, a lot of our players have been taken by several clubs in Europe. There is no better encouragement than that and we’ll keep doing our best to help these budding talents we have in our ranks.”
FC Rukh Lviv have wasted no time in blooding in the young Nigerians into their squad. While some of the players have been sent to the under-19s, Michael Obamina was drafted into the senior team and has already made his debut.
Meanwhile, this year’s edition of Super Stars Annual Tournament will be held in November at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo.
Mazi Akuma Chibuike reporting, Obinwannem News writer / September 13, 2021
