Scout Report Eta Kufre, Best Stars Academy

18 year old Eta Kufre is a tank. The teenage sensation plays for Best Stars Academy, and here’s a scout report for SønderjyskE.

Who is Eta Kufre?

Updated on February 4, 2022

Eta Kufre was strongly linked to a union with several Danish Super league clubs. the Cameroonian will do extremely well in Europe’s top 5.

However, still at Best Stars Academy, any move for the teenager will not be a cheap one.

Taking the well-trodden pathway from smaller clubs in Cameroon’s Youth set-ups to Best Stars where he was completely rebuilt some years back, Eta has impressed in past seasons in the regional Championship.

With 27 appearances across all competitions during the Best Stars’ unprecedented 2021 SW Regional Championship win, the youngster, aged 18, began to impose himself on Djoufack Saturnin’s Best Stars team sheet more frequently.

Last season was the highest point of a fledgling career to date. Born in the SW region Cameroon, Eta began playing football from an early age with his close family.

His talent was recognised by Best Stars Academy where he impressed for the system’s various youth sides before he was graduated in the team’s senior set-up some three seasons ago.

He spent his first season at Best Stars senior team mainly watching and learning.

In his second season at Best Stars (a club playing in Cameroon’s third tier), Eta made over 70 appearances for the first-team across all competitions in a football calendar year.

His excellent performances at Best Stars has attracted many, who are monitoring and watching him up the ladder of showpiece at his parent club.

STRENGTHS

Defensive energy

Progressive passing

Playing the killer pass, especially in transition
Shot power/ left foot, right foot

WEAKNESSES
Lack of precision in shot power
Slow in decision making

Capable of playing as either a defensive-minded midfielder or in an attacking role, Eta has an extraordinary natural stamina and the drive and ability to change games. If he continues his development with the ball at his feet, he could very soon become one of Africa’s finest central midfielders.

Standing at 6’9” with a huge frame, Eta has an ostensibly huge presence in midfield – and looks do not deceive. His coach describe’s himas ‘a combative player who works hard in defence’, and that’s certainly evident watching him play.

He doesn’t shy away from hard-hitting tackles in midfield.
Unlike many others who play in the centre of the park across Africa, the youngster has a level of discipline well beyond his tender age.

But Kufre is more than just a defensive-minded midfielder. His drive and natural fitness set him apart and men, he’s constantly moving, covering ground both in attack and defence. Eta is one of those players who might prompt onlookers to comment “he’s everywhere, that guy”.

With 6.2 successful pressures and 1.1 interceptions per 90 last term, he plays a significant role in helping Best Stars to break up play in midfield before shifting into a counter-attacking motion.

His transition play is advanced for an 18-year-old midfielder. As mentioned before in reference to his defensive work rate, Eta helps to stall opposition attacks – but also has the ability to recover and use the ball effectively to push his team forward.

With a pass completion rate of 86.7% last season and averaging 5.5 passes into the final third per 90, the Eta is progressive in possession. With 440 yards of progressive distance per match, Eta is predominantly a box-to-box midfielder but could focus his skillset in a more defined role.

In an attacking sense, Eta stood out. Granted, his raw statistics – 8 goals last season, and 4 assists across all competitions – is excellent given Eta doesn’t spend much time directly behind the striker compared to a player like his teammate Essuka.

Instead it’s in the secondary phase of attack that he performs best, during the passage of play that facilitates chances. As mentioned, Eta’s influence on the attack is evident in his progressive yards statistics and high pass completion rate, but upon closer inspection his impact becomes even more significant.

Per 90 last season, Eta had contributed 4.3 shot-creating actions for the players around him. That’s a higher than any of his teammates usual central midfield partners at Best Stars

Watching Eta does support the data: what you see on the spreadsheets is, more or less, what you see on the pitch too.

On the face of it his aerial win percentage of 47.5 doesn’t seem too bad, but Eta often stands off the aerial challenge and instead decides to pressure the opposition after the ball has been brought down. That isn’t a bad strategy in isolation but as Best Stars don’t have much height (kids) in central midfield it is pivotal for the team.

Eta’s presence is felt in all matches. Because of the way Best Stars patiently build up the play from the back, their central midfielders are instrumental in finding and engineering space. Eta is currently isn’t prone to being suffocated by the opposing midfield despite him being a constantly reliable passing option.

His best play comes when he operates as the deep-lying midfielder with vacant space ahead of him. With the intelligence to dictate the pace of a match, Eta is at his best when he comes short to receive a pass before spinning into space and aggressively pushing forwards.

In this role, the 18-year-old has both the defensive and offensive awareness to thrive; with his impressive range of passing, he can unlock the opposition from deep. When on form and with space in front of him, Eta is a dangerous prospect for any opponent.

Who does Eta compare to?

Due to his African background – Eta has been compared with Yaya Toure. Both share many technical similarities on the pitch.

Granted, Yaya was a lot more matured when he thrived at a stable enough age, Eta could very well fill his boots in Europe.

What are Eta’s strengths?
What are Eta’s weaknesses?

His assist for Likanjo Jemea during Best Stars’ semi finals SW regional league win against Buea United demonstrated exactly what he’s about.

Picking up the ball in the centre circle, Eta pushed forwards, calmly side-stepped an opposing midfielder before sliding a perfect through ball to Likanjo, who rounded the goalkeeper and finished.