…As Chelsea’s Sporting Director for Africa, Kicks-off Scouting Programme in Yenagoa
Organisers of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament also known as the Prosperity Cup seeks to expand the frontiers of talent discovery as it partners ex-international, Seyi Olofinjana to conduct a scouting programme in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The football tournament/scouting programme, which will hold at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa from 5th to 10th April, 2026 is an initiative of Seyi Olofinjana and Imperial FC in collaboration with the Prosperity Cup, Ministry of Sports Development and the Bayelsa State Football Association.
The organisers of the Prosperity Cup, the biggest grassroots football tournament in the country, are using the programme to expand the frontiers of talent discovery in the State.
The Seyi Olofinjana programme is coming less than two months after the FC Barcelona scouting programme organized in conjunction with the Prosperity Cup and the Bayelsa State Ministry of Sports Development.
In their bid to catch them young, the organisers of the scouting programme are targeting young footballers in the age bracket of 13-15 and 16-19 years.
The programme is aimed at showcasing the talents of some of the finest young Bayelsa footballers. It will also afford the best among the young footballers, the opportunity of playing professional football both in the country and outside.
The football tournament/scouting programme will further entrench the name of Bayelsa on the footballing map of the country. It will also boost the image of the State as the new sports destination of the country.
It will be recalled that Olofinjana began his career with local sides Crown FC and Kwara United before moving to Europe with Norwegian side, SK Brann. After two seasons at Brann he moved to English club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The midfielder became a regular at Molineux making 213 appearances for the club over four seasons before joining Premier League club, Stoke City in August 2008 for a fee of £3 million. He played only the 2008–09 season with the team before joining another top flight side, Hull City, again for a fee of £3 million. He also featured for Cardiff City.
Olofinjana made his international debut for the Nigeria national team in June 2000, in a 3–2 win over Malawi. He has 48 caps for Nigeria.
In April 2021, Olofinjana left Wolves for Swiss side, Grasshopper Club Zürich, becoming their new sporting director. He resigned and left on 20th June, 2022. In June 2024, Olofinjana was appointed the head of scouting by Premier League club, Chelsea. He was tasked with the responsibility of identifying talents from Africa.
