Football royalty visited the boys competing in the CAF African Schools Football Championship in Zanzibar! On Monday, legends Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria), and Abdi Kassim Sadalla (Tanzania) met the young players at their hotel.
These African greats, all part of the CAF Legends program, shared their wisdom and motivation as the teams prepare for the four-day tournament kicking off today at Amaan Stadium.
CAF wants to create an unforgettable experience for these young footballers. The legends joined the teams for a special dinner, encouraging the U-15 boys to embrace fair play and make the most of this exciting opportunity.
"Seeing young African footballers like you competing in this tournament is inspiring," said Togolese legend Emmanuel Adebayor. "This is bigger than football. It's about learning from your fellow Africans, something we should all embrace."
Adebayor added, "Winning is great, but sportsmanship and fair play are crucial. These values will help you succeed on and off the field."
African football legends offered more than just encouragement during their visit to the CAF Schools Championship! On Monday, Emmanuel Adebayor, a former Arsenal star, spoke to the young players about the dangers of fake player agents.
"You're the best young players in your countries," Adebayor said. "Everyone wants to be the next Jay-Jay Okocha or Mohamed Salah, but it takes time. Don't rush into things and fall victim to fake agents who promise big clubs abroad but only want to take advantage of you. CAF is working to raise awareness about this issue. Be vigilant and don't fall for their scams."
This visit marks an exciting step towards the highly anticipated second season of the CAF Schools Championship finals. Legends of the African women's game, Amanda Dlamini (South Africa) and Jean Sseninde (Uganda), also inspired the girls' teams at their hotel on Monday ahead of their tournament kickoff on Tuesday.
By Olaleye Oluwadamilola