One of Nigeria’s foremost football academies, Tripple 44, has agreed a partnership with Diamond Sports Management.
The pact signed on Saturday will see the United Kingdom-based organisation become the Ibadan-based outfit’s official agency.
While they have only existed for four years,Tripple 44 produced players like Porto-target Emmanuel Adeyemo, AC Alcanenense’s Innocent Ejiofor and Nigeria U20 attacking sensation, Peter Olawale.
This venture is a landmark achievement for Samuel Olatunji-Okuku’s team, and the expertise of former West Ham United and Diamond Sports director Cem Sagar will assist the academy in providing first-class management and representation to the flood of football talent at Tripple Academy.
“One of the things that attracted us to Diamond Sports is the fact that we have a lot in common,” Olatunji-Okuku told Goal.
“First, both organisations were founded around the same time. Their company was established in 2016 the same year Tripple 44 was established. So, it’s just like we as a young club finding a partner who has got a big vision and we feel we can group with them and that’s an icing on the cake for us.
“He [Sagar] is like a brother and someone I can easily relate with. He’s being at the top level of the game having played for West Ham United and he knows what is expected of every footballer.
“He is not only going to help us in terms of transfer alone, he is going to help in the development of our coaches and the players. It not about money-making partnership but It's going to be a symbiotic kind of relationship and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Tripple 44 Academy
Echoing the sentiments of the Tripple 44 boss, Sagar also expressed his delight on this "interesting project" while highlighting what the Nigerian team would stand to benefit.
“I think making this agreement with Tripple 44 Academy was an interesting project for us to take on at a time when we were having offers from three other academies across Nigeria," the ex-Hammers star said.
“One of the benefits it would bring to Tripple 44 and Diamond Sports Management is being able to control players’ development together, where we will be more involved in day to day development of the players, helping the coaches to improve the players.
“People that have seen our selected team know that have never lost a game in Nigeria. This shows that what we are trying to do with the boys and the ways we are trying to implement gaming styles and tactics is quite different.
“This is the first time we are making an agreement like this and from what I have seen of Tripple 44, they are a very young team and seeing them producing international players within four years is a big achievement, so we are ready to take on this project with them.”