Scout backs Nahki to go higher

The scout who helped kick-start Nahki Wells’ career in England believes the striker could flourish in the Championship.

Martin Dell, head scout for The Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy, didn’t need asking twice when Derek Broadley — then Technical Director at the Bermuda FA — told him he had a player who just had to get out of Bermuda.

And Dell told the Bermuda Sun that Wells’ combination of speed, ability and improved decision-making means he could blossom further if surrounded by quality players in the second tier of English football.

“He did really well last year,” said Dell, “and all the feedback he was getting was good. This year they’ve had a really good run in the cup which has brought it to the forefront but he’s been scoring goals, is very quick and is mentally strong and they’re very happy with him.

Transfer

“The feedback is if he keeps developing, keeps a good head on his shoulders, he could move pretty quickly up the ladder whether it’s Championship, probably not Premier League just yet, but he could step up if Bradford don’t get promotion this year.”

Dell also explained the chain of events that saw the now 22-year-old — he’s Bradford’s leading goalscorer this season with 18 — board the plane for England in 2010 and really start to turn heads with his talent.

“I heard about Nahki through Derek Broadley who I’ve known several years through the USL and he basically said this is the kid that needs to get off the island as quick as possible and I really trusted his judgment to be blunt.

“I saw some videos of him playing but truthfully I didn’t see him play on the island. I just trusted Derek.”

He added: “It was an opportunity for Nahki. I spoke to his father at length, went through the application process and he went over there. Academically he was there for maybe one or two semesters and then he got picked up by Carlisle.

“Mark Ellis is one of the main coaches at RIASA, played for Bradford and coached at Bradford. John Hendrie’s also there and he coached and played at Bradford, he’s also a FIFA agent.

“Nahki then went to Carlisle on the recommendation of Mark Ellis and was only there for six months and he was released. But it was only a matter of one or two days and Bradford already said they were going to pick him up. The rest is sort of history.”

Dells says Wells’ natural ability was never in question but that his development in England has seen him hone his game to a lethal degree.

He said: “In the modern game there really is nothing that beats flat out good speed.

“He’s very quick, very clean technically and I think he’s improved his finishing and the movement of his runs — that’s what they’ve done through RIASA, through Mark Ellis and through the Carlisle and now Bradford experience.

Flourished

“They’ve put that raw physical and technical talent and bonded it with the movement and finishing that at that level makes him a real handful right now.

“He seems to have taken the speed and physical nature of the game at that level and flourished and to be honest if you go to the next level with better players and better condition he could still flourish.”

“I’m very excited for him and the RIASA organization is really pleased with how he’s developed,” said Dell, who was in Bermuda for the HSBC Bermuda Brazililian Football School College Festival.

“It’s not going to happen to every kid who goes over there. They might get a four-year degree and some semi-pro experience but Nahki’s is a great story and it shows that in Bermuda it absolutely can happen.”

Routes to the final

How Bradford City and Swansea City made it to the Capital One Cup Final at Wembley:

Bradford City
First round: Notts County 0-1 (aet)
Second round: Watford 1-2
Third round: Burton 3-2 (aet)
Four round: Wigan 0-0 (2-4 pens)
Quarter-final: Arsenal 1-1 (3-2 pens)
Semi-final: Aston Villa (3-4 agg)
Nahki has three of his team’s goals in the Cup.

Swansea City
First round: Bye
Second round: Barnsley 3-0
Third round: Crawley 2-3
Four round: Liverpool 1-3
Quarter-final: Middlesbrough 1-0
Semi-final: Chelsea (2-0 agg)

Have a message for Nahki? E-mail James Burton: [email protected]. On Twitter, use #WellsAtWembley.
Our coverage of Wells at Wembley is sponsored by Digicel and Lindo’s.