Dikko Declares Open B-License Coaching Course

NFF 2nd Vice President/LMC Chairman, Mr. Shehu Dikko on Thursday declared open the two-week 2015 CAF B-License Coaching Course holding at the FIFA Technical Centre, National Stadium Complex, Abuja.

A good number of former and present Coaches of the National Teams, Head Coaches of Nigeria Professional Football League teams and a good number of ex-international players are taking part in the two –week course, being superintended by former FIFA Advisor on tehnical matters, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde.

Other resource persons are former National Team Coaches James Peters and Kashimawo Laloko, NFF Technical Director and former Super Eagles’ coach Amodu Shaibu, former NFF General Secretary and FIFA Match Commissioner Bolaji Ojo-Oba and FIFA advisor on refereeing Mr Linus Mba.

Dikko, who is also Chairman of the First Instance Body of the NFF (with direct responsibility for Club Licensing), promised that the football governing body is now ready to implement all aspects of Club Licensing provisions, including that which forbids coaches without CAF License working with top tier clubs.

“As from next season, Coaches without the B-License will not be able to sit on the bench as Head Coaches of NPFL teams. Those who do not have a minimum of C-License cannot be assistant coaches. We will start from there and go higher in the years to come.

NFF 2nd Vice – President And Chairman LMC, Mallam Shehu Dikko

“The present NFF administration will continue to build the capacity of coaches because we have such high regard for them. Apart from the capacity –building programs we have had for coaches at home and abroad, we have also taken coaches on special training with regards to the Prozone software, which, I can assure you, is helping the work of the National Team coaches.”

Over 70 coaches are participating at the course. Among them are Friday Ekpo, Roland Ewere, Bala Mohammed, Wasiu Ipaye, Etta Egbe, Nicholas Ukadike, Emmanuel Osigwe, Lukman Oshun, Fancy Ewulu, Fatai Yekini, Baba Ganaru, Ndubuisi Nduka, Patrick Udoh, Victor Wikadason, Kennedy Boboye, Imama Amapakabor, Lateef Yusuf, Audu Adamu, Peter Nieketien, Tony Ogharanduku, Bernard Ogbe, Adanna Nwaneri, Samuel Addingi, Kehinde Anjorin, Obi Ogbala and Wilfred Ugube.

NFF Lauds Akinwunmi On Charity Project

NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick.

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick has commended the efforts of the NFF 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi towards educating indigent children in Lagos State and catering for the needs of ex-international players.

On Sunday, Akinwunmi, who is also Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, took his love for charity to a new level with a charity mini–tournament at the Campos Memorial Mini-Stadium that drew scores of future stars and several ex-international players who have over the years benefitted from his foundation.

Seyi Akinwunmi charity mini–tournament

“The NFF is proud of the efforts of Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi in the area of charity. He did not start just recently; I am told his foundation has been on for nine years now. That is praiseworthy. That tells you the quality of people on the new NFF Executive Committee.

“There are a lot of areas that we need to look at in football. What Lagos State has done in the past four years under Akinwunmi has to be emulated by several other States in the country,” Pinnick said on Monday.

Lagos State Football Association was on ground with its high-flying project, Eko Football Future Stars, and the U-13, U-15, U-17 and women teams thrilled the audience to fascinating skills in a number of games that began in the morning, before a couple of novelty sessions that included several ex-international players and football administrators.

Akinwumi explained the rationale behind the mini-tournament. “Upon my recent assumption to office as 1st Vice President of NFF, several colleagues and associates sought to host me to a celebratory party but I humbly declined, opting rather to host a charity event to raise funds. I wanted something that would impact better on society.

“The aim is to educate 200 or more intelligent and indigent children in Lagos State, and also to pay hospital bills of selected ex-international footballers and start a fund to create an insurance scheme for footballers in Lagos State.

Seyi Akinwunmi charity mini–tournament

“Actually, I have a foundation which is in its ninth year and has been doing something with regards to these. We want to take things to a higher level. Whatever we are able to raise from this event will go to the foundation, and there is a lump sum that will go to ex-internationals through the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria.”

NFF Executive Committee Member, Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi represented the NFF President at the event, with Ekiti State Football Association chairman, Dr. Isaac Ayodele and Chief Kashimawo Laloko, founder of the Pepsi Football Academy, also in attendance.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, Alhaji Tade Azeez, vice chairman of Lagos State Football Association; Mr. Adeyinka Adeboye, special assistant to Lagos State Governor of Football Matters; Dr. Kweku Tandoh, Director of Sports, Lagos State; Members of Lagos FA executive committee; NFF’s Assistant Director (Communications), Ademola Olajire; Mr Emmanuel Ibru; Mr. Deji Beecroft of WinnersGoldenBet and; ex-internationals like Henry Nwosu, Friday Ekpo, Yisa Sofoluwe, Fatai Amao, Mike Onyemachara, Teslim Fatusi, Gbenga Okunowo, Baldwin Bazuaye and Austin Popo were present.

Baleria, Eaglets’ coach goes to school!…as unfit lads drop out of training

Kabiru Baleria, Golden Eaglets’ assistant coach, has gone back to school to update his knowledge of the game.

The former El-Kanemi Warriors’ attacker who was on the coaching staff of league champions, Kano Pillars, is presently undergoing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Grade C-License course at the NFF/ FIFA Goal Project in Abuja.

Participants at the two- week course are to be taken through theory and practical sessions under some notable Nigerian coaches including former Super Eagles manager, Shaibu Amodu and former NFF’s Technical Adviser, Coach Kashimawo Laloko amongst others.

“Coaching is a continuous process,” said Baleria.”The first day introductory has been very interesting as we received encouragement
from top Nigerian coaches.”

CAF recently requested that national team coaches from its affiliate federations to acquire its coaching badges in order to be in tune with the dynamics of the game on the continent.

Meanwhile there was a mild drama at Golden Eaglets training session on Monday as some potential teenagers fell like pack of cards.
With players still coming in droves, the coaching crew was forced to give time for more trials but it all turned out to be a ruse.

Gabriel Adewale who is attached with Dynamics FC in Ekiti said the training regimen is not a child’s play, adding that the standard he
met on ground is very high.

“Messi is really trying o,” Adewale gushed out as he was being helped by the medical team.” Laziness is different from maximum power and I can see clearly now.”

Others who failed to meet up with the schedule equally admitted that they were not used to the sort of training conducted by the Eaglets technical staff.

“Football is a practical thing and it was good that some of them were given the opportunity,” said an on-looker.”Fitness is part of the game and it would never be easy to play good football without match fitness.”