Head of TalentLockr Africa,  Ade Adebisi has calmed the frayed nerves of parents and guardians over the future of their ward selected from the recently concluded football TalentShow.

In an exclusive chat with TheGuardian at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Lagos, Adebisi assured that the future of all selected players is in safe hands given TalentLockr’s global reputation, adding that players progress will be monitored to ensure they settle down well at their respective clubs in Dubai.

He revealed further that the choice of Dubai as the first stop for the players is to help hone their skills and prepare them for the bigger challenge of Europe in the future.

“We got together and envisioned it with our partner. We wanted to do a talent show where we could start up with at least eight players for which we have opportunities. But if we have more than that we have opportunities for them. It is just to try and give young Nigerians and Africans the chance they need to get to the highest level in their career.

“TalentLockr is different because we, as an agency, manage the whole process ourselves, we do not just take them and go. The players will be going to Dubai, and our agency there will always check on them and see if the clubs are doing well in terms of player’s welfare and development. They won’t spend their whole lives in Dubai, but it’s a hub for them to develop, kick off from there, and go to Europe.

“We are strong in Dubai, we go where we are strong. We have an operation in the UAE that will look out for the players. We have clubs who are our partners in Dubai. The players won’t spend their whole lives in Dubai, it’s just a hub because we feel not every player will be ready to go to Europe. All we want to do is give them a hub to develop before heading to Europe.

“As for the players, a good contract is a reward for their talents, and we at TravelLockr believe it depends on the level of the players to tie down a contract. The players will be looked after ranging from houses and salaries. They get their contract increased as they move to clubs but they must get it right by getting into a club first because that is the hardest part,” he said

The former rugby star who once played for the Skolars and then the Broncos also enjoined footballers who could not attend the trials to download TalentLockr app and upload their videos to stand a good chance of being sought after by foreign clubs.

“The whole traveling process is managed by TalentLockr and its partners. The players don’t have to bring in any money, all the expenses will be handled by TalentLockr. We have an app where players who could not attend the talent show can download the app and upload their videos too,” he said