Talent Scouting: ANAFOOT Trains Best Regional Aspiring Student Footballers In Bagofit

By Doh Bertrand Nua

Some 76 aspiring young footballers (29 girls and 47 boys) have undergone a three day training organised by the Cameroon National Football Academy, ANAFOOT. The training at the Bagofit complex in the East region was the fifth national grouping of the ten regional poles of ANAFOOT.

Student footballers undergoing training 

It brought together young talents between the ages of 10-17 from the ten regions of the country. 

The trainees were among the best retained during rigorous regional selections organised in three batches. 

The kids underwent continuous physical, athletic and technical evaluations in the course of the training which was done in strict respect of COVID-19 barrier measures. 

The training was under the watchful eyes of the General Manager of the ANAFOOT, Carl Enow Ngatchu, who, said the body is out to realize President Biya’s dream to scout and exploit football talents in young Cameroonians and improve the quality of local football in the country.

General Manager of the ANAFOOT, Carl Enow Ngatchu

“It is our wish to ensure the dreams of these children are attained. In three years already, we have sent out young footballers from ANAFOOT to train with Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City. This time we have three call-ups from the football academy to join the U-17 Men’s and Women’s national football teams,” Ngatchu revealed while explaining the success story of the football academy. 

On her part, the Deputy Director of the Training Centre of the Academy, Victorine Fomum, said the training for the aspiring footballers is schedule in respect of their academic calendars. She added that football without education is seemingly useless reason why they do encourage the kids to be both academically and technically fit. 

The Director of the Training Centre at ANAFOOT, Joseph Atangana hailed the resilience, tact and determination of the teen footballers since the outbreak of the Coronavirus. He said the children were subjected to daily fitness, technical and athletic tests before embarking for football trainings with their various coaches.

The ANAFOOT national grouping of regional poles brought together trainers, the regional heads, and coaches amongst many others. The aspiring professional footballers expressed gratitude to have been selected, adding that the training will enable them improve their skills, dream bigger and make big names in football in the near future.