Date: 2020-01-10

The Director of Football, FK Kauno Zalgiris of Lithuania, Emantas Puras, says the club has discovered over 20 players in a week-long scouting programme in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Puras disclosed this during a press conference on Thursday in Ilorin to give an update on the programme tagged 'Kwara Street Soccer and Scouting competition.'

The Zalgiris director, who disclosed that the programme was its first in Africa in partnership with Sportiqo Africa, said the outing was a success as they had seen players who could be thrown directly into the Lithuanian league.

"We are surprised by the talents we have seen, we can't give the accurate number of players now because the programme is still ongoing.

"Some of the guys we have seen will still stay in Nigeria while others can go straight into our league in Lithuania," Puras said.

Puras said he was impressed with the quality of facilities and the organisation of the Kwara Football Academy, noting that their partnership with Sportiqo Africa would go a long way in assisting up-and-coming players towards achieving their goals of becoming future Stars.

The CEO, Sportiqo Africa, the facilitator of the scouting programme, Emmanuel Okeke, said, "The Kwara State Government didn't think twice when we brought the proposal to them, it is the first time we are doing this in Nigeria. Our target is to help talented Nigerian youths to achieve their dreams through football."