The Journey Has Only Begun by Bethel CEO

 

BFVA 2026 Scouting: A Successful Beginning of a New Standard for Grassroots Football in Kogi State.

A Message of Appreciation from the Founder & CEO

The successful conclusion of the BFVA 2026 Scouting Exercise is a moment of great satisfaction, gratitude, and reflection for everyone associated with Bethel Football and Vocational Academy Ltd.

What began as an initiative to identify promising young footballers has become something much bigger—a demonstration of what is possible when committed people come together around a shared vision for the future of football and youth development in Kogi State.

On behalf of the management of BFVA, I sincerely appreciate every member of staff, volunteer, coach, official, media professional, parent, supporter, and player who contributed to making the scouting exercise a success.

Our Expectations Were Not Disappointed

When we conceived the 2026 scouting programme, our expectation was not simply to gather a group of young players and conduct football trials.

We wanted to create an environment that introduced young footballers to a more structured, professional and organised approach to player development.

I can confidently say that the response exceeded our expectations.

The commitment demonstrated by the players, the quality of participation, the support of football stakeholders, and the dedication of our team demonstrated that there is a genuine appetite for a new approach to grassroots football development in Kogi State.

To Every Player Who Travelled—Thank You

One of the most encouraging aspects of the scouting exercise was the commitment demonstrated by the young footballers themselves.

Players travelled from Abuja, Lokoja, Kabba, and communities across the Adavi and Okehi axis to participate.

Some travelled considerable distances because they believed that an opportunity was worth pursuing.

To every player who attended, regardless of the outcome of your assessment, I want you to understand something:

Your willingness to travel, compete, learn and expose yourself to professional assessment is already part of your development.

Football development requires courage, discipline, patience and consistency.

The journey does not end with one trial.

For many of you, this may only be the beginning.

Recognising the Kogi Central Coaches Association

We are particularly grateful for the presence and support of the Kogi Central Coaches Association, represented at the scouting exercise by its Vice President, Coach Aminu Akeem.

Your presence was significant.

It demonstrated the importance of collaboration between organised coaching structures and emerging football development institutions.

Grassroots football cannot develop in isolation. Coaches need opportunities to exchange knowledge, players need proper development pathways, and football organisations need to work together to create a stronger ecosystem.

We sincerely appreciate the Association for identifying with this initiative.

Appreciation to the Okehi Referees Association

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Chairman of the Okehi Referees Association, Comrade Anouda, for his presence and contribution.

Refereeing is an essential component of football development.

Introducing young players to an environment where rules, discipline, fairness and proper match procedures are respected is part of preparing them for the realities of professional football.

Your participation added value to the scouting exercise, and we appreciate your support.

Appreciation to Adavi Football Association

We equally acknowledge the Chairman of the Adavi Football Association, Mr. Stephen Itopa Ozovehe, for his support and presence.

The involvement of local football administrators is crucial to building a sustainable grassroots football system.

We believe that football development should involve the entire ecosystem—players, coaches, referees, administrators, clubs, communities, schools, media and other stakeholders.

Your participation reinforced that principle.

To Our Media Team—Thank You

A special appreciation goes to our media team led by Mr. Ahmad Emmanuel, popularly known as "Radio Wizard."

In modern football, media is no longer an afterthought.

Documentation, storytelling, player visibility, communication and digital media are now important components of the football industry.

The work of the media team helped document the scouting exercise and communicate the story beyond the physical venue.

We appreciate Mr. Ahmad Emmanuel and the entire media team for their professionalism and commitment.

To Our Staff and Volunteers

Behind every successful event are people who often work quietly without receiving recognition.

To every BFVA staff member and volunteer who contributed before, during and after the scouting exercise:

Thank you.

From planning and registration to player coordination, technical activities, communication, logistics, documentation and general event management, your contribution mattered.

Your commitment demonstrates that BFVA is not built around one person.

BFVA is being built by a team.

This Is Bigger Than a Scouting Exercise

Perhaps the most important lesson from the 2026 scouting exercise is that we must begin thinking beyond individual trials.

Our ambition is to introduce a standard of operation that can contribute to a broader transformation of the sports ecosystem in Kogi State.

We want to see football development become more structured.

We want young players to understand professionalism from an early age.

We want coaches to continue upgrading their knowledge.

We want referees to be properly respected and developed.

We want administrators to understand modern sports management.

We want clubs and academies to develop proper systems.

We want young people to understand that football is not only about what happens during 90 minutes on a pitch.

Football is an industry.

It involves education, coaching, scouting, administration, media, sports science, technology, business, entrepreneurship, safeguarding and player welfare.

That is the ecosystem we want to contribute to building.

Preparing the Complete Player

At BFVA, our vision goes beyond producing players who can kick a football well.

We want to prepare young people for professional football and for life.

Our model is built around the development of the whole person—technical ability, tactical understanding, physical preparation, discipline, character, education, communication, leadership and practical life skills.

We want our players to understand professionalism before they reach professional football.

We want them to know how to conduct themselves.

How to communicate.

How to manage their time.

How to respect coaches and officials.

How to work with teammates.

How to handle opportunities.

How to deal with setbacks.

And importantly, how to prepare for life beyond football.

Because football may be a player's pathway, but football alone may not be enough to prepare a person for life.

The Journey Has Only Begun

The success of BFVA 2026 Scouting is not the destination.

It is a beginning.

We will continue to evaluate how we can improve our programmes, strengthen partnerships, develop our coaches, expand scouting opportunities and create meaningful pathways for talented young people.

We also recognise that building a stronger football ecosystem will require collaboration far beyond BFVA.

It will require football associations, coaches, referees, schools, clubs, government institutions, private organisations, communities, parents and young people to work together.

Our doors remain open to those who genuinely want to contribute to the development of football and young people in Kogi State and beyond.

To everyone who made BFVA 2026 Scouting possible, we say THANK YOU.

To the players who travelled from Abuja, Lokoja, Kabba, Adavi, Okehi and surrounding communities—thank you for believing in the opportunity.

To our staff and volunteers—thank you for your sacrifice.

To the Kogi Central Coaches Association—thank you for your support.

To Coach Aminu Akeem—thank you for representing the Association.

To the Okehi Referees Association and Comrade Anouda—thank you.

To Adavi Football Association and Chairman Stephen Itopa Ozovehe—thank you.

To our media team led by Mr. Ahmad Emmanuel "Radio Wizard"—thank you.

And to every person who contributed in one way or another—this achievement belongs to all of us.

The work continues.

We are not simply scouting players.

We are building pathways.

We are introducing standards.

We are developing people.

We are building the future of Kogi football.

Emmanuel Audu
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Bethel Football and Vocational Academy Ltd (BFVA)

“Developing Talent. Building Character. Creating Opportunities.”