After leaving West Ham United, promising youth winger Ezra Tika-Lemba secured a full-time scholarship with Newcastle United.
Tika-Lemba is one of three new academy arrivals, the Magpies announced on their official website on Friday, July 12.
Tika-Lemba will now try to advance in his career in the North-East after failing to make the cut at West Ham.
“Moving from school into a full-time program isn’t easy, but it’s a scholarship packed with education, life skills, psychology, strength and conditioning as well as a comprehensive football program,” Newcastle Academy Director Steve Harper stated.
West Ham lose promising Ezra Tika-Lemba
Even though it is upsetting to see young talent like Tika-Lemba go to Newcastle, many clubs deal with this.
David Chigwada of Manchester City and Luis Brown, the youth captain of Arsenal, were recently recruited by the Hammers. Prominent figures such as John Terry had trained at West Ham before leaving, but the team also gained from the addition of players such as Declan Rice from other teams.
Although Tika-Lemba’s future at Newcastle is unclear, West Ham’s academy is still producing talented players to offset any losses. Ultimately, youthful talent’s ups and downs are a natural aspect of sport.
Given his young age, supporters will not know for another few years yet whether he is going to be a major hit. Should that happen, there will no doubt be some saying they knew the club should have done more to keep him.
