Eight promising players from the Katsina State Football Academy have departed Nigeria for a one-month intensive training camp at FC Torpedo Zhodino-BelAZ in Minsk, Belarus, after impressing at the Malam Dikko Umaru Radda Scouting Tournament 2.0.
Eight Katsina Football Academy Players Depart For Training Camp In Belarus
Eight promising players from the Katsina State Football Academy have departed Nigeria for a one-month intensive training camp at FC Torpedo Zhodino-BelAZ in Minsk, Belarus, after impressing at the Malam Dikko Umaru Radda Scouting Tournament 2.0.
The players earned the opportunity after emerging among the outstanding talents discovered during the Malam Dikko Umaru Radda Scouting Tournament 2.0, held from May 29 to June 4, 2026.
Speaking on Tuesday, Chairman of the Katsina State Football Academy, Ahmed Mohammed, hailed Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda as “The Ultimate Playmaker” for his unwavering commitment to grassroots sports development and youth empowerment.
He said the scouting tournament, initiated by Governor Radda, was designed to identify and nurture exceptional football talents from all 34 local government areas of Katsina State and provide them with opportunities to compete on the international stage.
Mohammed revealed that the one-month training camp in Belarus could open the door for some of the players to secure professional contracts with FC Torpedo Zhodino-BelAZ, describing the programme as a life-changing opportunity for the young athletes.
The first batch includes Abdullahi Aliyu (18), Alhassan Muhammad Shariff (18), and Ismail Nuhu (20), while the remaining five players in Batch A, along with four others in Batch B, are expected to travel to Minsk in the coming days.
According to him, the overseas training programme forms part of the Katsina State Government’s broader strategy to expose young footballers to international standards, create professional career pathways, and showcase the state’s football talent to the global community.
He added that the initiative reflects Governor Radda’s vision of using sports as a powerful tool for youth development, employment, and international recognition, while positioning Katsina as a growing hub for football excellence in Nigeria.
