Mo Ibrahim: The Pro Touch player has secured a six-week spell at Norwich FC

Published: 29 August, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

CREATIVE midfielder Mohamed Ibrahim has played his way into a Premier League club – and what has already proven a whirlwind three months for the youngster continues to gather momentum.

The 15-year-old was ecstatic when the news came through that Norwich City Football Club had selected him in their starting line-up against Chelsea on Tuesday.

Despite being on the wrong side of a 4-1 result, Mo put in a showing that any professional would be proud of.

He has now been handed a six-week trial with the Canaries, starting with a testing away fixture against Manchester United on Saturday.

“Playing against Chelsea was a big experience for me as they are one of the biggest academies in the country,” said Mo.

“I was really excited to be involved and play against them. It was a tough match and we lost 4-1, but I played my normal game and received good feedback which I was happy about.”

Mo joined Pro Touch Soccer Academy in May and was a key player in their Under-16s squad which travelled to Denmark to take part in the Dana Cup last month.

But it was when he returned to action on British soil that the highly-skilled playmaker was spotted by Norwich scouts while playing for Pro Touch against visiting teams from the US at the artificial pitches at Market Road, Islington.

From there Mo was invited to join 40 other promising players, including Pro Touch team-mate Emmanuel Osilaja, at a special assessment game in Norwich.

Amazingly Mo was the only player from the group to win a place in the club’s Under-16s side against Chelsea.
Pro Touch coach Tony Blair said: “Mohamed represented himself and our academy very well. He certainly hasn’t done himself any harm.

“It looks like he's got a bright future ahead of him.”

• Any players aged six to 16 wishing to find out more about trials with Pro Touch Soccer Academy should contact Ash Rahman on 07732 872022 for details.