West Ham United hand scholarship to 16-year-old Jemiah Umolu
West Ham United are beginning to offer academy scholarships to some of their teenage talents and the latest to receive one is Jemiah Umolu.
According to All Nigeria Soccer, the 16-year-old will begin the first year of a two-year scholarship on 1 July and he’s already begun to make an impression on the Hammers youth coaches at Rush Green.
Even before signing this scholarship deal, Umolu had made two appearances in the Premier League Under-18s for the Hammers and he also has a goal to his name from the defence as well.
Neither appearance was a start, unfortunately, but now he can fully focus on his football and not the added pressures of school work he may get more opportunities to impress.
More scholars are expected to be announced with the West Ham academy providing wonderful chances to youngsters once more.
Vital
The majority of fans often overlook the importance of the academy at any club and the appreciation only ever comes when the senior side is in desperate need of a player in one particular position.
Injury crises often see teenagers from the academy called upon at the last minute and the quality of the academy will always determine how prepared that player is to make the big step up to the senior team.
West Ham have one of the country’s best academies which is why we have Under-23 and Under-18 teams that are challenging the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea on a regular basis.
The next step for the Irons though is to have some of these talented youngsters actually make the grade in the first team rather than be a last resort for the stubborn David Moyes.
The Scot had plenty of chances to give an academy graduate a chance last season but he insisted on running his main men into the ground which ultimately prevented them from achieving their second successive top-six finish.
In other West Ham news, Jarrod Bowen was massively impressive on his England debut against Hungary and the BBC’s Matt Upson highlighted one main strength of his that no one else has.
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