Sporting scouts at NF Elite Qualification camp

Sporting scouts at NF Elite Qualification camp

Published on: 05/08/2019
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Sporting scouts at NF Elite Qualification camp

 

Sporting CP sends its own talent scout to NF Academy’s NF Elite Qualification camp in Denmark on the 23-25 of August

 

During the summer, NF Academy has been looking for top Scandinavian talent. In its popular program NF International, all players in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 age categories who are named Player of the camp, will win an invitation and a free participation on  NF Elite Qualification Camp in Denmark on the 23-25. August. There, they will have more than just NF’s top trainers’ gaze fixed on during the workouts.

Akil Momade is in his 13th year as a talent scout for Sporting CP. The 52-year-old has a high level of training and has worked as a head coach for both youth teams in Benfica and Belenenses in addition to A-teams at levels 3 and 4 in Portugal.

Momade is waiting for the camp in Denmark to scout players for Sporting. Below, he tells us what a Portuguese top club looks for in young talented players.

Being comfortable with the ball and having a good basic technical register, including everything from passing, receiving to dribbling and shooting are very important characteristics. It is also important to understand the game and to read it, whether when his team is in possession of the ball or when he seeks to regain that possession, to have the will and desire to be dominant, as well as make good and fast decisions along the way. In some positions like goalkeeper and central defender, we may also look for physical factors such as height or how tall the players can become as adults, says talent scout Akil Momade.

Akil Momade, Sporting CP's scout that will be in NF Elite Qualification Camp in Denmark
Akil Momade, Sporting CP's scout that will be in NF Elite Qualification Camp in Denmark

Training in Sporting Academy

NF Academy’s new NF International camps are being rolled out in 15 cities in Scandinavia this summer. In the 2004, 2005 and 2006 age categories a player of the camp will be named, which will win the invitation and free participation in the NF Elite Qualification Camp. In this camp, which gathers participants from Norway, Sweden and Denmark, the two best in each age category will win a three-day stay with the world-famous Sporting Academy.

We are trying to form a picture of the potential, quality and cost of acquiring talents outside Portugal. Therefore, the primary target group is usually players without a contract. In the long term, our goal is that these players, regardless of nationality, can one day become part of our A-team, the Sporting scout continues.

Momade then highlights the work academies like NF Academy, and several clubs have started in recent years, as a success factor for Nordic players’ progress internationally.

There is a lot of focus on the technical and strategic aspects of the game. In recent years, several Nordic players have also stepped into the major European leagues. One key factor for the increase is undoubtedly the focus on player development in some clubs and academies in the Nordic region, Momade concludes.

Develop players in a competitive environment

Regardless of nationality, talent is not enough.

To fit into good teams like Sporting, a player must be more than a very good athlete. It is also about the strategic skills that allow the player to reach his potential. Being part of a strong competitive group will develop the player technically, physically and mentally. The competitive situation in the group will present challenges to solve along the way, which also includes competing against older athletes. The key to realising the potential of the talent lies in learning the game by playing it, and so we often look for player types we think can play roles in how Sporting wants to play, says Akil Momande in the end.

NF Academy has a partnership with Sporting in NF Elite Training Camp where players have two training sessions at their academy as well as a match with the Academy’s teams. In case you are interested, fill the form below with the players background, specifying the program you want to participate in.

I want to train with NF Academy

Send us a short request with the player’s background and the type of activities you want to participate in. We follow up with advice on which local and international programs can suit you.


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