As program ends in Abuja

By Rasheed Adewuyi

The General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, on Saturday, stated that the one-week NFF D-License Coaching Course held at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project, MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, was meant to identify, empower and engender focus for coaches at the grassroots.

Speaking at the program’s closing ceremony, which included both practical and classroom sessions, Sanusi said the NFF has, through the Technical Department, identified those among the participants who are capable of working assiduously with the Federation to drive real talent discovery at the grassroots.

“The NFF contacted the Confederation of African Football about organizing this course, and CAF, on their part, also escalated it to FIFA, which was approved. We decided to do the D-License first to identify and empower those coaches who work with young talents at the grassroots and those among them who can help the NFF administration’s vision of developing the game from that point.

“The Technical Department has informed me that a good number of the participants exhibited great knowledge and understanding and will be able to work on our youth programs. They have all been certificated and empowered to be even more professional in their work and make diligence and hard work their watchwords.”

Forty coaches participated in the week-long program, which was coordinated by the NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, his deputy, Mrs. Faith Ben-Anuge, Assistant Technical Director Abdulrafiu Yusuf, and Chief Technical Officer Garba Lawal.

Sanusi told the participants to prepare to identify and nurture the next generation of Nigerian football stars.

“It is a non-negotiable fact that we must keep the supply chain rolling and with good talent. Apart from the fact that football is a booming industry, it is the most significant factor that unites and creates the strongest bond among people from diverse places, cultures, languages, religions, orientations, and backgrounds. We must always endeavor to ensure that football works at its optimum level.

“In a few weeks, we will organize the women’s version of this D-License program and await CAF’s approval for higher-grade courses (C, B, and A in that order) throughout the year.”  

The highly experienced Coach Henry Abiodun was among a team of resource persons that also included Coach Eguavoen, Dr. Paul Onyeudo, former Super Eagles’ star Edema Fuludu, former FIFA referee and special assistant to the NFF General Secretary Mohammed Adebayo Ameenu, and Dr. Robinson Okosun, a retired director in the NFF Technical Department.