Head coach of the U20 team of Nigeria Ladan Bosso has revealed the process that led to the discovery of Brentford’s defender Benjamin Fredrick, OwngoalNigeria.com reports.
Fredrick has signed a permanent deal with the English side after impressing during a loan stint at the club. His commanding performance for the youth team earned him a spot on the bench of the first team four times, and there is every likelihood that he will play for them before the end of the season.
He came to limelight while representing Nigeria at U20 level as he was ever present for the team at the AFCON and the World Cup in Argentina. He did enough to command the interest of a host of teams but Brentford beat all comers to his signing.
Bosso who picked him for both tournaments explained how he refused to be deterred and kept his faith with the then 16 year old, despite being told that he was dropped by the U17 coaches few months ago.
” He was playing for a football academy in Kaduna called Simoiben Football Academy owned by the wife of Nigeria international Moses Simon. They played a pre season tournament in Abuja which I watched and he was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament”,Bosso said.
” I wasted no time in telling him that he will be a part of my U20 team. Someone told me he was dropped from the U17 team that I should be wary of him but I said I know what I saw and I need it in my team”, he explained further.
” In the build up to the WAFU tournament he was my third choice defender, but we couldn’t get his international passport sorted in time to be in the squad. His passport came very late but I insisted on taking him to the tournament.
” Before the AFCON was when I saw his maturity. I remember dropping two foreign based defenders and three others from NPFL teams for his sake. Not many understood back then but now I guess they do,” he stated.
Speaking on the qualities that convinced him to put his faith in the then 17 year old, Bosso wasted no time in listing them. ” Strong on the ball, quick in recovery and can pick a long pass with ease. He is very comfortable on the ball and very assured in tackles. His aerial ability is one part of his game that I admired the post and he has a winning mentality, hates to lose even in training”, he concluded.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
