Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
FORMER Nigeria international Sam Sodje has completed the first level of a football scouting programme under the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) education programme in England.
Sodje, who is now involved in youth development through Green Alliance Football Academy (GAFA) in Delta State, said the training had strengthened his ability to identify and develop players with the potential to compete at higher levels.
The former defender, speaking with Stonix News, said the course had provided him with greater insight into the qualities international scouts look for when assessing footballers.
He believes the knowledge gained from the programme would be particularly valuable in his work at GAFA, where he is involved in nurturing young footballers and creating pathways for talented players.
The PFA education programme provides current and former professional footballers with opportunities to pursue academic, vocational and career-development programmes beyond their playing careers.
Sodje also called on the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to make player education a key component of ongoing reforms in Nigerian football and the restructuring of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
He stressed the importance of preparing footballers for life beyond the pitch, arguing that education and career development should be integral parts of the support system provided to players during and after their playing careers.
His call comes amid wider discussions on administrative and structural reforms in Nigerian football.
Sodje said a stronger emphasis on education would help ensure that footballers leave the game with skills and qualifications capable of supporting their future careers.
For the former international, his latest scouting qualification forms part of a broader transition in his career, combining his experience as a professional footballer with his growing role in football development and talent identification in Nigeria.
