Why We Are Celebrating Pepsi Football Academy At 20, By Nelson

As players from four teams continue to do their battle at the astro turf of the MKO Abiola Stadium Abeokuta on the final day of activities marking the 20th years anniversary of Pepsi Football Academy (PFA), the Consultant to the Academy, Iain Nelson, has said that Pepsi would continue to contribute its quotas to the development of Nigerian football.Four teams, including the St. Bedes School from England, Pepsi Football Academy (PFA), River Lane Football Academy, Enugu and Oyo State Academicals had started the battle yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.Nelson, a former Marketing Director of the soft drink giants, told The Guardian that that the past 20 years had been remarkable for the academy, saying: 'it has made a real and significant difference to thousands of youngsters through our training centres across Nigeria.'According to him, the Pepsi Football Academy has an elite list of former young players in the Academy who are currently plying their trade in big leagues in Europe and Africa. 'These players include Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwingie, Elderson Echejile, Onyekachi Akpam, Ejike Uzoenyi just to mention a few. As we speak, the PFA continues to produce more players for the country.'He hinted that the duo of Tosin Michael and Larry Egunjobi both from Pepsi Football Academy are now playing professional football at Portugal and Spain respectively after their two-year stint at St Bede's, while Rilwanu Olugbode is currently at the college.This international tournament, which will end this evening according to Nelson, will be used to select the next beneficiary of the Pepsi St. Bede's College two-year scholarship for 2012/2013 academic session.
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