Seven Africans have made it into Nike's Final 100 players participating
in "The Chance" 2012, a unique global talent search that gives
amateur footballers the chance to prove themselves on an elite stage and take
their game to the next level. This year, the final event will be held at FC
Barcelona's iconic training ground.
The seven African participants includes: Mohamed Debka, attacking midfielder and Mounir Bouraou, forward from Algeria, South Africa’s Melusi Zulu, mid fielder, Nicholas Mynhardt, striker and Teboho Charlie Tsotetsi, central mid fielder. The rest are Bismark Kwarteng, right / left winger from and Fodé Daffe, forward from Senegal.
First launched in 2010, The Chance has seen thousands of talented
footballers participate in high-level coaching and training. This year's
programme promises to be the most global and competitive yet and will see the
Final 100 train and play at the training facilities of one of football’s most
legendary teams.
The Final 100 players, from 55 countries, were selected from over
100,000 global entrants under the scrutiny of elite coaches and scouts from all
over the world, a process which started in March of this year.
The top 16 from the Final 100 players will go through an intense
training and competition schedule in Barcelona with the opportunity to
experience the ultimate training tour as their reward; facing some of the most
renowned academy teams in the world including Manchester United and Juventus
during a once in a lifetime four week period. From the 16, a select group of
players will be invited to train with the Nike Academy, based in the UK, and
supported by the English Premier League.
The Final 100 will gather in Barcelona from August 19 and will live and
train like professionals. “We are in for such an exciting week," says
Jimmy Gilligan, the head coach at the Nike Academy. “In Barcelona we will host
100 very talented young footballers, give them the best coaching at the best
facilities around, allowing them the best opportunity to shine and to impress.
Importantly, all the coaching and training during the week will make every
player better.”
During the week the footballers will train at FC Barcelona’s training
ground and will be assessed by elite coaching drills gathered from around the
world. With Barcelona as a backdrop, players will also experience the unique
atmosphere of the city with activities throughout the week.
"The Chance has been a great success in 2012," says Carlos
Homedes, global Marketing Director for football at Nike. "It is a unique
programme that gives talented young players from all over the world the
opportunity to excel and take their game to the next level, and these Final 100
players will have an experience they will never forget."
The winning 16 players will live the life of an elite footballer and
train at the best facilities around the world under the watchful eyes of club
coaches and scouts, a golden chance to get noticed and potentially win a
professional contract.
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