There’s excitement in the football community in Benin City, capitalof Edo State in South-South Nigeria. One of the country’s best run grassroots football academies, BJ FC, holds its annual End-of-Year match and celebrations on Wednesday, December 24, at the Arinze Primary School playing pitch.

The match up is between current players of the academy and ex-stars who have gone on to fuller professional football.

The event, which kicks off in the early hours of the morning, would see Super Eagles star Elderson Echiejile take to the field to thrill fans with his footballing talents. Former Golden Eaglets mercurial and burly attacker, Isaac Success (of Spanish Primera Liga outfit, Granada), Almeira (also of Spain) pacy attacker Stanley Okoro, Portuguese giants Porto midfielder Mikel Agu, Solomon Okpako (of Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa) and Efosa Ona Amoroso (Al Sahel SC, Kuwait) are also expected to be on parade for what promises to be an explosive match.

Other ex-BJ stars who are lighting up the Nigerian league would equally be involved. They include Freedom Omofomwan, a free-scoring striker for Warri Wolves, Heartland attacker, Osas Okoro, and defender defender Festus Umana of newly promoted Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.

Isaac Success will be hosting his ex-teammates, present players and coaches to lunch in his house after the match.

The present BJ squad contains young and exciting players who are expected to give their more established colleagues a good fight. Last year they lost 1-3, but this time they would be hoping to put on a better show.

BJ Academy is managed by Douglas Idahosa, who also coaches the team on a daily basis. He has received lots of commendations for raising the stars from the grassroots and showing them the light to success in the ultra-competitive world of football through his thorough guidance.

•Photo shows BJ FC Manager, Douglas Idahosa, flanked by two of his protégés. Isaac Success of FC Granada is to his right and FC Porto’s Mikel Agu is to his left.