Torino FC coaches prepare Act Sports talents for European tour, train Nigerian coaches

A strong team of coaches from Serie A team, FC Torino were in Nigeria last week to assess the readiness of a young team of players being prepared to tour Italy and some parts of Europe for a series of friendlies that is expected to expose and enhance their chances of signing for clubs that may need their services.

The training programme, which held side by side with a coaching clinic/seminar that had 24 coaches participating, is part of an ongoing partnership between the Italian team and Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited.

It is also designed to fine-tune the rough edges of raw football talents, as well as help to upgrade the knowledge of coaches.

The weeklong programme saw players of different ages between 16 and 19 years showcasing their talents in ball handling, possession, control and passing skills.

These fundamental aspects of the game formed the criteria upon which the coaches — the duo of Federico Caronte and Davide Tilbado – who led the FC Torino assessment team to Lagos would pick the squad now bound for the trip to Italy on a month long tour.

According to Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, the director and Chief Executive Officer of the academy, the visit to Italy will not only help to build the players technically, it will enhance their chances of getting signed by clubs that may need their services.

“The whole idea of bringing coaches from Torino FC to Lagos on this training programme is to make them see the players first-hand, then observe their strengths and weaknesses with a view to making them better,” Oyibo said in an interview.

“I am satisfied that this objective was met. After a week of adding value to their training methodology as against what they knew hitherto, I am pleased that much was achieved. This basic foundation of skill acquisition and knowledge upgrade is now what we are expected to build upon, going forward.

“We also thought it wise to include the training of our coaches to the package in order that a fundamental aspect of the training methodology in grassroots football development is not neglected,” he added.

The Italian coaches also hailed the exercise, saying that it achieved the very purpose for which it was organised.

“We came to Nigeria not only to help train your players, but also to impart some knowledge in your coaches. While we realise that every single one of your coaches have different orientations and methods of training that they have always adopted and believed in, we feel that there is still room for them to add to their knowledge through what we offered during this visit,” Federico Caronte, an ex-international, said.

The coaches and team members

A cross section of coaches displaying their certificates after the programme

All 24 coaches who attended the seminar were awarded certificates at a colourful ceremony which held at the Havana Hotel and Suites in Egbeda, Lagos on Friday.