A youngster of the Pepsi Football Academy has declared himself Nigeria's future hope in the midfield department of the national team, the Super Eagles, with the departure of Jay Jay from national service.

The lad, Ifeanyi Ekezie, of the Pepsi Football Academy Aba, was among the over 100 kids who invaded Lagos from different parts of the country to participate in the Pepsi National U 12 5-a-side football tournament at the Indoor Sports Hall of the University of Lagos.

Speaking with journalists before the kick-off of the competition, Ekezie stated that he had been playing football for as long as he could remember and has come to pattern his style of play to that of Frank Lampard of Chelsea and England.
"I believe I will be able to provide the current missing link between defence and attack in the national team when my time comes." He said.

Ekezie, who also said that his team was good enough to win the trophy, was vindicated when his team, the Pepsi Football Academy Aba defeated the Pepsi Football Academy Jos 3-0 in the final.

He said his highest goal scorer award would not change his mind about being a midfielder.
"I am the Lampard of Nigeria and that is the role I will pursue. Scoring the highest number of goals in this competition does not mean that I will now change my focus. I am a born midfielder and only took the chances that came my way. A midfielder sometimes scores more goals than the strikers.
After all, Jay Jay did it at the Nations Cup," Ekezie concluded.

This was his first experience of Lagos and he wished to thank Pepsi for making it possible for so many to be able to develop their talents at the Pepsi Academy training centers across Nigeria and for exposing them to the novel experience of coming to Lagos.