A prominent beach soccer coach, Angelo Shirinzi, has started a process that could turn around the sport in Nigeria.
Working on the initiative of Kinetic Sport, organisers of the annual Copa Lagos, Schirinzi has succeeded in discovering 23 fresh talents from the six centres he conducted talent hunt ahead of the forthcoming Copa Lagos slated to take place between December 8 and 10 at the Eko Atlantic.
The coach who led Tahiti to win silver at the last edition of Beach Football World Cup said he was impressed with the talents in Nigeria.
“I was amazed to see many talented players in Lagos. Over 300 of them were brought together and I picked 23 who will be prepared for about 10 days before the Club Challenge at Copa Lagos,†he said.
Managing Director of Kinetic Sports, Samson Adamu, at the weekend revealed that Takwa Bay and Badagry Beach were some of the places the coach visited to look for talents.
Adamu said: “We want a solid team to be raised for the forthcoming event. We are also looking at a bigger picture beyond the three-day competition. We want to give some of the youths opportunity they have been looking for to excel.â€
He also have commendations for the sponsors of the annual Copa Lagos.
“The sponsors have been great that is why we are trying to make the competition better every year.
“FCMB has been our lead sponsor since inception. Special thanks also go to Pepsi, our Official Beverage partner, as well as Hero, the Official Beer of Copa Lagos. Wakanow who joined up as the Official Travel Agency for Copa Lagos, have also been wonderful.â€
Meanwhile, Kinetic Sports has lined up activities including its Corporate Social Responsibility event, tagged ‘Clean the Beach,’ to spice up the Copa Lagos tournament.
The ‘Clean the Beach’ project is aimed at conserving the beach, encouraging cleanliness in the environment and preserving marine life.
The exercise will involve over 200 people that will include beach football players, staff, sponsors, celebrities and other volunteers.
