Obiku, other Feyenoord coaches arrive for Shell Cup

Former Super Eagles’ striker, Mike Obiku, is among the coaches of Feyenoord Rotterdam Academy of Holland expected to arrive in Lagos yesterday to witness the final stages of the ongoing NNPC/Shell Cup football competition.

Melvin Boel and Gido Vader will accompany Obiku on the trip.

The trio play various roles at the Feyenoord Academy. Obiku, a former player of Feyenoord, is currently Head Coach of Feyenoord Soccer Schools, while Boel is responsible for the curriculum of all international camps of the team. Vader, a former journalist and media officer of the team, works in various capacities because of his global experience in football,

SPDC’s Sustainable Development and Community Relations Manager, Igo Weli, said the  exposure of participants to foreign technical crew from the Feyenoord Football Academy was meant to boost the tournament’s standard.

Meanwhile, all the quarterfinal matches of the competition were concluded yesterday at the Second Division Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment Sports Complex, Odogbo, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The semifinals will take place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on May 22, while the third place and final matches will be on May 24 at the same venue.

Weli said: “We have strengthened the partnership launched in 2014 with Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Youth Academy, one of the most successful youth academies in the world, to bring world-class coaching and player development expertise to Nigeria for the final stages of this event.

“The top 10 talents discovered during each edition will be awarded scholarships and each scholarship will cover the cost of each awardee’s secondary school education,” he said.