Leeds United first-teamers Noah Okafor and Lukas Nmecha made a surprise visit to the Leeds United Foundation Emerging Talent Centre recently to help celebrate the achievements of the young females participating this season.
The Emerging Talent Centre (ETC) is a Premier League-funded programme designed to support the development of female footballers in England who demonstrate exceptional potential.
Entry into the programme is by selection following a trial process, and the core aim of the ETC is to identify and nurture elite players in alignment with the England Lionesses pathway, showcasing the best talent across each region.
“It’s really inspirational to see young girls having fun, almost everyone had a smile on their face, so I really liked coming along to offer our support,” said Okafor.
Leeds United forward, Nmecha, added: “I didn’t expect so many people to be here, so it was nice to come and watch them for a bit and also see how high the level was. I think more generally for the younger generation – boys and girls – it’s just good for us to give back in a way, give them a bit of advice and give them a bit of confidence.
“Everyone here has been selected to be here, so that’s one step in the right direction – they’ve all got a bit of quality so it’s been nice to speak to them tonight.”
Okafor and Nmecha were invited down to The Hunslet Club, which is the new location for the Foundation's Emerging Talent Centre for the new season, to help inspire the youngsters whilst also recognising all of their hard work in being selected for the development programme.
Chloe Greenwood, Women and Girls Officer for the club's official charity, said: “It’s been great to have some of the first team players down here tonight with Noah and Lukas, really helping celebrate the achievement of the players and the process that they’ve gone through to be selected for this programme.
"They act as a real inspiration for our young players, and it is great that we always receive so much support from the club and first team for initiatives like these in the local community."
A coach from The Hunslet Club also spoke to LUTV during the visit, she added: “We’ve been working with the Leeds United Foundation for over a year now, and they’ve been supporting us with the pathway. To see so many girls here tonight for the new season is brilliant, and we can't thank them enough for their support with our sessions."
