Some of this year’s contestants
All is set for this year’s Avenue International Soccer School Agency (AISSA) soccer reality show, Rev. Nelson Kofi Poku, CEO of Avenue Soccer Academy, has said.
The show primarily seeks to offer a unique platform for young footballers particularly in the remote areas to showcase their talents and ultimately fly the winner abroad to pursue his career.
“All is set for this year’s edition after successful two editions in 2016/18. This year’s will attract 10 contestants who are training individually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are only waiting for the ban on the partial lockdown to be lifted and then we start,” Rev. Poku said.
And responding to what inspired him to put the show together, the business entrepreneur and the pastor added, “My love for football, passion and quest to help talented footballers to achieve their dreams propelled this dream, and consequently formed the academy.
“We are really looking forward to a great show; the players are keyed up for this year’s edition which is expected to run for four months. Already, voting has started, and we have four days to vote and select ten players to the house at Kasoa.”
The annual programme, which originally birthed as an inter-church football competition, was launched in 2016, with Francis Asabesi emerging as the winner of the 2018 edition.
Officials of AISSA fulfilled their promise by flying Asabesi to Europe for trials, but currently he plies his professional trade with a Ukrainian top side.
AISSA is a television soccer programme organised by Avenue Soccer Academy, a subsidiary of AISSA which operates under the Central Regional Football Association in Ghana.
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum
PIX: AISSA ACADEMY
CAPTION: Some of this year’s contestants. INSET: Rev. Nelson Kofi Poku