Times Of Swaziland: ARSENAL LEGEND  EBOUE FOR  ESWATINI  OPEN TRIALS

ARSENAL LEGEND  EBOUE FOR  ESWATINI  OPEN TRIALS
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BY ASHMOND NZIMA  on 31/12/2019 00:59:00


MBABANE – Celebrated soccer legends and officials from across Europe are
expected in the country for the first-of-its-kind Eswatini open football trials.
On January 20, 2020, Australia-based global marketing firm Professional Soccer
Management (PSM) is bringing the officials and the legends who are headlined by
Emmanuel Eboue, who starred for English Premier League side Arsenal during
2004-2011.
The former Ivory Coast international boasts 132 appearances at Arsenal. PSM CEO
Emmanuel Emenogu, in a press conference at Sigwaca House in Mbabane, announced
that Eboue, who is now an African scout for top Turkish side Galatasaray, will
be joined by other European clubs’ representatives from countries that include
Belgium and France during the trials to be conducted over 10 days across the
country’s four regions from January 20, 2020 until January 30. The trials will
be staged under the ‘Be the next African soccer star’ banner.
Zimbabwe-born Benjani Mwaruwaru, who used to play for England’s Manchester
City between 2008-2010, is also expected in the country.
The ultimate goal of this exercise is to take the players who will pass the
trials for Europe to benefit Sihlangu in future following a partnership with the
Eswatini Football Association (EFA). PSM has partnered with clubs that include
AEK Athens (Greece), BC Zagiris (Lithuania), Arsenal (England), Anderlecht
(Belgium), Galatasaray, Buluspor, Alanyaspor (all Turkey) and Ajax Amsterdam
(Holland).
“The trials are for players in three age categories -   10 to 15, 16-18 and 19
and older.
“We won’t use only stadiums but open grounds at the regions. We’ll draw up
a programme and release it to the media,” said Emenogu.
Emenogu insisted that for Sihlangu to be competitive, the country needed players
in big leagues in Europe.
“We’re bringing our partners from Europe in a bid to take Eswatini to
another level.
solution
“We’re not about selling players, but we are a looking for a permanent
solution. We believe that once the recruited players make it in big leagues in
Europe they will also come back home and create job opportunities through
starting businesses. Youngsters can also get a chance to study abroad while also
playing professional football. They can start at junior level and move up the
ranks,” he said.
Emenogu said forms would be distributed across the regions for players to
register for the trials. Those in the 10-15 category will pay E200 to register.
Those in the 16-18 age bracket will fork out E150. Senior players (19 and older)
will be charged E100 each. Shortlisted players will be taken through final
assessment after the trials period.
“We’ll also have a day for Premier League players trials.
“We have players like Obafemi Martins (former Nigerian international) who
never played locally but ended in Europe. He was recruited in the same way,”
highlighted Emenogu.
He assured that they were an established brand with offices in the United
Kingdom, South Africa and Nigeria. Top goalkeeper Vincent Enyema, who is one of
the most capped Nigerian players of all time (101 caps), is reportedly under
their wing. He has played for clubs that include Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel and
Lille in France.