The Aberdeen Football Club Youth Academy received a huge boost with the announcement that the Club had entered into a strategic partnership with Norwegian energy firm Statoil to further enhance the work being undertaken across its Youth Development programmes.

Statoil is now the exclusive Aberdeen Football Club 'Talent Partner' with the emphasis specifically on the future development of elite youth players through the AFC Youth Academy. The Statoil “Heroes of Tomorrow” sponsorship concept supports talented young people, not just in sport but also in culture and education to help them achieve their ambitions

The Statoil Young Talent and Talent of the Month awards are awarded to players who show an exceptionally high standard of talent during academy training sessions and matches at club and international level and for the month of March this was awarded to Nimi Faleye who received the Young Talent of the Month for the second consecutive month and David Dangana who won the Talent of the Month.

Nimi Faleye has won the Statoil Young Talent of the Month Award for the second successive month.  Nimi’s performances throughout March continued to be of an exceptionally high standard and also scored 17 goals over the four match days.  Gavin Levey, Head of Junior Academy, stated ‘Nimi’s determination to work hard off the ball is matched with his creativity when in possession, and for a young player we have been delighted with his dedication both on and off the pitch.  There were a number of players challenging for this award in March after a very successful month for the Junior Academy, but Nimi’s consistent exciting performances and team work have seen him win the award again’.

David Dangana, who attends the SFA Performance School at Hazelhead Academy, has performed really well in the month of March. His performances as a midfield player and a striker for the U15 and U17 squads merited the call up to the bench for Paul Sheerin's U21 squad when the played against Patrick Thistle.
 
Head of Youth Academy, Neil Simpson says ” David has shown real potential as he combined his skill on the ball with hard work, and we are looking for him to continue this form until the end of the season”