‘Davido Dream Football Show is an avenue for talent discovery’

Young football talents in Nigeria and Africa in general, who have been yearning for an avenue to showcase their skills, have been provided a platform to realise their dreams.

Three partners, Abu Salami Media, 1XBet and David Adeleke (Davido), have teamed up with a plan to launch a model football talent hunt programme named ‘The Davido Dream Football Show (DDFS) – Nigeria’s Premiere Football Show.’

The show is an initiative for advancing youth soccer, especially at the grassroots level through a designed curriculum that has potential to develop fundamental technical skills and tactical awareness in young players, who are committed to competing at the highest levels.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Abu Salami Media, Mr Abu Salami, who doubles as chairman of Davido Dream Football Show, the programme is aimed at empowering and supporting young male football talents within Nigeria and around Africa, players of between ages 18 and 22.

At the launch and media presentation of the programme, on Tuesday, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Salami said: “The Davido Dream Football Show will enable young football talents to realise their dreams of becoming stars in future.”

He revealed that the reality TV show would run for 30 weeks with one episode to be shown every week.

“First, we will organise screening of those who will register. Once they are screened, we will organise series of trials. From that exercise, the best among them will be selected for camping for the final show,” he said, praising 1XBET, the major sponsors.

“It wasn’t easy to find sponsors until I got to 1XBET, who saw that the project aligned with their philosophy of sports development and youth empowerment.”

Also speaking on the project, president of the Davido Dream Football Show, David Adeleke, said it is a great way to give back to the society and explore untapped potential of the Nigerian youth.

“We all know impact is essential and a show like this will not only engage the minds of the youths, it will birth meaningful changes and opportunities for youths across Nigeria and Africa as a whole. I believe it’ll also set the pace for impact driven initiative in grassroots football in Africa,” Adeleke said.

With a selective approach in its talent acquisition process, talents are picked to join the show based on skill, attitude and commitment through scheduled screenings across Nigeria and camping geared towards training selected talents for trials with partner clubs in Europe, he said.