By Anan Geolengs
Nigerian U-20 player Jahmang Pam has signed a contract with Marcelo Houseman, a renowned international football scout and agent from Argentina.
The agreement was signed on Sunday at ABT Football Academy in Kwoi, Southern Kaduna, at the end of a weeklong scouting programme.
The programme, organised by Alhamdu Bala, chairman and proprietor of ABT Football Academy, attracted no fewer than 800 young footballers from 15 academies.
The players participated in intensive training, technical assessments, tactical sessions, and competitive matches designed to identify promising talents for international opportunities.
At the end of the rigorous scouting exercise, Houseman selected 16 players across the U-17 and U-20 categories for further development and consideration for opportunities abroad.
Pam, who featured prominently during the programme, impressed the Argentine scout with his technical ability, tactical intelligence, vision, versatility, and understanding of the game.
Speaking after the signing, Houseman described Pam as an exciting young talent with qualities capable of attracting interest from clubs outside Nigeria.
Houseman said, “Pam has exceptional qualities, but talent alone is not enough; he must remain disciplined, focused, and committed to continuous improvement.”
He promised to work towards securing a lucrative international opportunity for Pam within the next few weeks as part of efforts to further develop his football career.
“I see a player with great potential, and my responsibility is to help create the right pathway for him to grow and compete at a higher level,” Houseman said.
He urged Pam to remain humble and focused, warning him against distractions that could derail his progress at a crucial stage of his career.
Houseman also commended ABT Football Academy for creating an environment where young players could showcase their abilities before international scouts.
An elated Adama Jang, Pam’s mother and personal manager, expressed gratitude to Houseman and the academy for recognising her son’s talent.
Jang said the contract represented “a major step forward” in Pam’s career and expressed confidence that the partnership would open new doors for the young footballer.
“I am grateful to God and everyone who has supported Pam. We are excited about this opportunity and hopeful about what lies ahead,” she said.
She, however, promised that Pam would remain disciplined and focused while taking every professional advice necessary to succeed.
Pam, who described the development as a dream come true, said he was delighted to have earned the confidence of the Argentine football scout.
“I feel happy and motivated by this opportunity. I know there is still a lot of work to do, and I am ready to learn, improve, and give my best,” Pam said.
He thanked his mother, coaches, teammates, ABT Football Academy, and everyone who had contributed to his development, promising to remain committed to his football career.
Pam is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays primarily as an attacking midfielder and winger, with the versatility to operate in central midfield.
His big break came when he gained recognition after earning a call-up to Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, in 2024.
He was invited to the Flying Eagles training camp under former coach Aliyu Zubairu ahead of the WAFU B U-20 qualifiers.
Pam began his football journey in Jos, Plateau, at the age of nine. He continued to develop his technical and tactical abilities and had a stint with Mighty Jets, featuring in a number of matches.
His playing style is characterised by tactical intelligence, vision, ball control, and versatility, qualities that have continued to attract attention from football development stakeholders.
Bala, the academy proprietor, described the scouting programme as a significant opportunity for young Nigerian footballers seeking international exposure.
He said the academy was committed to providing talented players with professional development opportunities while creating pathways for them to pursue careers beyond Nigeria.
“This programme shows that talent exists everywhere when young players are given the right platform and proper guidance,” Bala said.
Bala said the selection of 16 players was not the end of the process, but the beginning of a new phase requiring discipline, hard work, and sustained development.
He noted that the selected players would remain in camp and undergo rigorous training to keep them fit and in shape ahead of their prospective international opportunities.
According to him, the academy will continue working with the Argentine international scout and football development partners to expose more young Nigerian talents to opportunities abroad.
Bala commended Houseman for travelling to Kwoi to assess the players personally, describing the scout’s presence as a major encouragement to the young footballers.
The academy proprietor also urged parents and young players to remain patient and wary of individuals promising overseas contracts without credible professional arrangements.
The scouting programme ended with renewed optimism among the participating academies, as selected players began preparations for the next stage of their football development.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
