Nigerian teenagers Emmanuel Chukwu and Precious Benjamin have both joined the Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim, Soccernet.ng reports.
The boys moved from the Nigerian academy Grassrunners FC of Ikenne. Grassrunners is a new club founded by businessman Gbenga Agbejoye.
Chukwu is a central defender who tried out for Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and Nottingham Forest before settling on Hoffenheim’s strategy.
Meanwhile, Benjamin plays as a forward.
Hoffenheim currently employs Nigerian international defender Kevin Akpoguma. A former Germany international, Akpoguma opted to play for Nigeria after his chances with the Nationalmannschaft were limited.
In January, they also secured the signature of striker Gift Orban. Although he was born in Togo, he has chosen to play for Nigeria. Orban has yet to make his Nigerian debut.
At 18, Chukwu and Benjamin are expected to start their introduction to European football with the Hoffenheim U19s. Another Nigerian player, Uche Obiogumu, played for the U19s until the end of last season.
Former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr once scouted Obiogumu. Rohr said he reminded him of Super Eagles legend John Obi Mikel. However, Obiogumu has yet to fulfil his talent promise, as he moved to Nuremberg II last summer.
It means that Chukwu and Benjamin have to work hard in order to secure a path to the senior team of Hoffenheim.
Retired Nigeria striker Chinedu Obasi played for Hoffenheim from 2007 to 2011 and helped them gain promotion from Bundesliga 2 in his first season as a record seven million euro signing.
