Patrik Berger, the former Liverpool midfielder, couldn’t contain
his happiness during his visit to Lagos
on Saturday, where he met with some
talented young Nigerian footballers. This trip marked his first time visiting
Africa, and he was delighted by the experience.
Known as ‘the Bomb’ during his playing days, Berger attended a
dinner organized by Standard Chartered Bank, the official sponsors of
Liverpool, and expressed his satisfaction with his visit to Nigeria.
“I am thrilled to have met these wonderful children, aged
between seven and 17. I witnessed great talent among some of them, and I hope
to see one or two of them playing for the Super Eagles and Liverpool very
soon,” he shared at the event held in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Czech footballer specifically came to Nigeria to conduct a
training session with the young players. He envisioned discovering talents
similar to the likes of Michael Owen, and he thanked Standard Chartered for
making this Expedia tour possible.
During the gathering, Berger praised former Nigerian star Yakubu
Aiyegbeni, whom he had the pleasure of playing with at Portsmouth. He described
Aiyegbeni as one of the greatest African footballers he had ever met,
highlighting his strength, passion, and humorous nature during their shared
time at the club.
Berger’s football journey began in his home country with Slavia
Prague, followed by a season with Borussia Dortmund in Germany. He moved to
England in 1996, spending seven successful years with Liverpool and securing
four trophies during his tenure.
When asked about the possibility of entering the coaching
business like some of his colleagues, Berger declined, stating that coaching
demands too much and prefers to focus on his fishing business. He also expressed
his desire to inspire young children interested in pursuing football.
At the event, Aderugbo Dayo, Head of Corporate Affairs and Brand
Marketing at Standard Chartered Bank, thanked Berger for his tour and expressed
gratitude to the children and everyone else involved in making the event a
success.
