Sheffield United teenage defender Patrick Hayes is keen to represent Zambia, with his father telling BolaNews that the youngster is ready to attend assessments ahead of the upcoming COSAFA Under-17 Championship.
Hayes, 15, plays as a centre-back for English Championship side Sheffield United’s Under-16 team and is continuing his development within the club’s youth setup.
His father, Sydney Mulenga Hayes, told BolaNews that his son is interested in representing Zambia and would be happy to attend assessments ahead of the regional tournament.
“His keen to play for Zambia and as the COSAFA Cup under-17s is coming up, he’s happy to come for assessments,” his father, Sydney Mulenga Hayes, told BolaNews.
Mulenga Hayes, who was born in Mulenga Hill in Kasama, said his son’s development is progressing well and that the youngster could earn a scholarship at Sheffield United as he prepares for a future in professional football.
“He is training well; he wants to play for Zambia and will be coming for a holiday soon and hopefully can be selected to represent the country in the junior teams.”
Hayes’ willingness to join the Zambia setup could give the country another promising young defender with experience developing within the English football system.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has yet to comment on the youngster’s interest in representing the country. However, BolaNews understands that the association maintains a database of prospective players for continuous monitoring.
