Back2Base will produce Ronaldos, Messis for Nigerian league, says Mikel

Former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, flanked by the Research Coordinator, Niyi Beecroft (right), Head PR, Ms. Fadekemi Ahmed and Management Team Head Mr. Dwayne during the formal presentation of Back2Base project in Lagos yesterday

Former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has said that the main purpose of embarking on his talent hunt project, Back2Base, is to produce the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Nigerian league.

The maiden edition of Back2Base programme will hold at the University of Lagos from June 9 to 12, featuring three sports, football, basketball and tennis. While football and basketball are expected to be competed by male players, tennis will feature both male and female players.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, yesterday, Mikel, who won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, said the Back2Base programme was set up to give aspiring professional athletes between 17 and 20 years opportunity to showcase their talents in football, basketball and tennis.

According to him, eight teams will participate in the football event, adding that 200 players have been thoroughly screened by a team of experts for the competition.

Mikel, a fan of tennis legend, Roger Federer, added that the sum of N2 million each has been set aside as financial reward for the three best teams. He said: “Back2Base talent hunt is not about gathering players and sending them abroad for professional career. We have to build the Nigerian league, and this project is to scout for players for interested clubs featuring in our domestic league. If the opportunity comes for the players to travel abroad, we will accept it. But for now, we are more interested in making the domestic league more viable so that our players will