By Silvernews
The grassroots coach of Campos FC, Ekezie Obinna Martin has revealed how Nigeria’s foremost grassroots football club in Owerri discovered stars that are plying their trade in world football, Silvernews.com.ng reports.
The coach disclosed that Super Eagles and Omonoia FC goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho was discovered at the age of eight where he was converted to a goalkeeper by the pool of experienced coaches at the club.
The gaffer further revealed how the club discovered and nurtured talents from their teenage years including; midfield maestro Uche Christantus, who was recently invited to the Super Eagles squad, striker Ogbuehi Nzubechi Sixtus (aka) Messi, who joined Spanish side Osasuna B Team on a 6 months loan deal with an option to buy from Deportivo Eldense, among others.
His words: “Uzoho joined Campos FC at the age of eight years. We kept training him, building him. He was a player then we looked at him and saw that goalkeeping will be a way forward for him to become a great player. We converted him, gave him gloves to start keeping. Even when we did that, he was angry with us. He refused to accept it but gradually we kept talking with him.
“The likes of Nnadi Tochukwu who joined at the age of seven years and today he is in Belgium. Uche Chrisantus, who is now in Spain. He joined Campos at the age of 12.
“We put in a whole lot of discipline in them. Coming from different homes, different characters without giving them sense of belonging, they won’t be able to make up what they are pursuing. We sat them down, begin to nurture them gave them information, taught them the moral live. Some of them, their parents dragged them to the training session.”
He emphasized that Campos FC has etched their name in the sands of time as a beacon of hope for young footballers across Imo State and beyond guided by a leader whose principles are rooted in mentorship, sacrifice, and a belief in a brighter future for Nigerian football.
