Former Nigeria international and 2003 CAF African Coach of the Year, Kadiri Ikhana, MON, has floated a football academy, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

Known as Kadiri Ikhana Football Academy, the the 2003 Enyimba of Aba CAF Champions League winning coach, has informed Exclusivenews.com .no that the Academy will begin screening of U-12, U-14 and U-16 players at their Auchi Polythechnic Sports Complex training ground at 4pm with Saturday screening at same venue slated for 8 o'clock in the morning.

Ikhana, 73, said the screening exercise is open for players who are not under any form of contract with any club or agent. He added that the exercise will continue untill the required number of players are recruited.

The veteran coach who has coached a number of clubs in Nigeria, including Sharks, Enyimba, Kano Pillars and Sunshine Stars, said he was motivated to delve into the program in order to discover a new generation of quality players for the country.

"After playing and coaching, I think it's necessary to help breed a new generation of young players for the country", Ikhana said.

"Call it giving back to the society, I believe there are bundles of potential footballers in the grassroot yet to be discovered and we  intend to fish them out, horn their talents for the good of the country", Ikhana said.