Abiodun Adedeji’s story, which is meant to serve as motivation for the younger generation, began as a student journalist covering sports-related topics for a campus newspaper called FAME SPORTS. He then went on to become a football manager and sports administrator before becoming the owner of FAMESPORT Football Academy, which develops talent for clubs in Nigeria and European scouts.
Adedeji, in a telephone conversation with newsmen from his base in the United Kingdom, explained how he pursued his passion while studying as an undergraduate at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, by reporting sports stories for campus publications established by Mr. Kehinde Adeyemi, who was the football coach of OOU’s school team but is now the director of sports of the institution.
As a student journalist, he used to obtain accreditations to cover a lot of CAF and FIFA competitions, which provided him with the necessary exposure and the chance to network with elite football coaches, players, and administrators. “I’m enjoying what I’m doing in the sports world right now because of that experience,” he said.
He added that “we were able to use the Fame Sport platform while at OOU to get a full scholarship in America for one of the talented football players in the school team back then, Debola Ogunseye, who is currently a coach in America and not only holds a master’s degree but also played professional soccer in Europe and other places before retiring,”
After graduating from university, he entered the world of football management, and had the chance to work with the FuturePro Soccer Academy team in Lagos, Nigeria. He was the team manager under whom products like Victor Boniface, Tobi Alagbe, Fatai Badmus, Sunday Adetunji, Ayobami Abiodun Junior, Ibrahim Rasheed, Taofeek Ismaheel, Chidera Adindu, Nduka Junior, Tony Okachi, and a host of other top international players emerged.
”Back then, I was essentially in charge of the Emeka Obasi project in Nigeria. He is the agent of the top player in Africa. He represents Sporting Supreme, a team in the Nigeria National League, and HB Academy in Abuja. Notable athletes including Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, Ola Aina, Seyi Ojo, Alex Iwobi, Bassey Ahmed Abdulahi, and several players of Nigerian heritage were also under Emeka Obasi’s management.
“I successfully worked and helped shape players like Ahmed Abdulahi (Sunderland), Francis Gomes (Everton), Victor Udoh (Southampton), Godwin Fredrick Gatuso (Mjondalen), Isaac James (Alverca), Simon Omon (C. Budojovice), Papa Daniel (NK Celje), Dennis Anthony (Goztepe), Alagbe Tobi (Asteras Tripolis), Leye Adebayo (Volos NPS), Mathew Yakub (MFK Dukla Banska), and a host of other top-quality players at the HB Football Academy.
Adedeji further explained that FAMESPORT Football Academy located in Sagamu, Ogun State, was founded early last year as a football academy that scouts and develops young, talented players of exceptional ability in order to give them with professional opportunities as quickly as possible.
”The academy wants to establish a setting that encourages the growth of talent and improves the abilities of its athletes. FAMESPORT Academy is establishing itself as a major force in developing the next generation of football players by emphasizing intense training, coaching, and competitive experiences,” he enthused.
