Ismaila Lere,With Agency Reports
6 July 2009
Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho believes an African country can do 'something special' at next year's World Cup, but he does not believe they can win it.
The former Chelsea and Porto manager arrived in Lagos on Friday night on a two-day visit to the Kwara Football Academy and predicted a bright future for African football.
"I see a good future for Africa, and it is good because next year the World Cup is in Africa and I hope the African teams will do something special at the World Cup.
"Maybe not win it, but they can do very well because there are some really good players in Africa," Mourinho said.
Mourinho was in Nigeria to encourage coaches and officials of the academy run by the Kwara state government.
"It is a great landmark in the history of Nigerian football as well as the KFA," Nkechi Obi, CEO of Premium Sports Marketing Services told BBC Sport.
"He is here with other coaches and trainers to conduct seminars and coaching clinics for indigenous coaches.
"We are positive that his presence will benefit the talented players in the academy and hopefully attract interest from international clubs throughout the world.
"Football fans, media and everyone involved with football will enjoy photograph and autograph sessions with the 'Special One' on this trip."
The trip facilitated by DanJan Sports was widely seen as an opportunity to expose the Kwara Football Academy (KFA) to the rest of the world.
"The KFA epitomises what a perfect football academy truly is and Gestafute are happy to be associated with them," David Omigie of DanJan Sports explained.
"We have seen what the visit of Manchester United and Portsmouth gave to Nigeria as a country in the past.
"The coming of Mourinho and KFA will bring a lot of positive attention to football in the country once again," he added.
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