In what can be termed the biggest deal out of the city of Kaduna, a city well known for the production of exciting and talented footballers not even at that did anyone envisage that someone from the city will secure a straight move to the English Premier League.
That is the story of Benjamin Fredrick, the Nigeria U20 defender who just put pen to paper on a four year deal to Brentford with the option of a further three years deal.
Plucked from fast rising Simoiben Football Academy in Kaduna, a pet project of the wife of Nigeria international winger Moses Simon, Mrs Ibukun Moses Simon as a way of giving back to the society that raised her husband.
Aside from the fact that she treats the academy with the love of a mother to child, the mother of two also displayed a high sense of understanding of the game whenever she interacts with the players after training or test games.
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Shortly after Frederick distinguished himself at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, offers poured in notably from Egyptian giants Al Ahly who were keen on securing the first option of signing the light skinned defender when he turns 18.
She rebuffed and instead handed him over to global football academy CAA Base, leaving his future in their hands while she continue to play an advisory role in her capacity as his legal guardian.
After the world cup, teams and agents bombarded the club with mails, calls and text messages offering mouth watery deals, enough to tempt anyone to consider them but not “Madam chairman” ( like the players call her).
As the end of the transfer window draws near, tension begin to settle in the camp of Simoiben with coaches and other backroom staff wondering if Fredrick will move or not. Little did they know she had it all agreed for him to join Brentford.
Last week was when she broke the news of the deal to the management of the team and even when it emerged that Brentford won’t be commiting a fee for the loan, she still didn’t consider other options that would have brought instant cash to the academy rather accepted the offer, solely on the fact that it is progress for the boy that matters now.
She is expected to be busy in few weeks time with players of the academy making moves. Recently one returned from Belgium, where he tested with Gent around the same time that Solomon John joined Czech Republic top division side Jablonec.
That same week a move to Latvian side Daugavpils was sealed for Lawrence Shimave Ugen. All eyes are on the duo of Emmanuel Michael and Nicholas Jonathan, who are youth international for Nigeria at U17 and U20 levels respectively.
Michael, who is traditionally a midfielder excelled as a left back for the Nigeria U17 team in their run up to winning the WAFU B championship. He picked up three consecutive man of the match awards, scored four goals and had three assists at the tournament and was picked as the player of the tournament.
Aside the players mentioned above, other talented players from the team as many as six are also said to be courting interest from teams in Europe, meaning it will be a busy end of the year for the iron lady Ibukun Moses Simon.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
