- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Participants at the first-ever CAF Coaching Instructors’ Course held in Nigeria 6th -15th July have hailed the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation for working assiduously to ensure that the course became a reality.
The course content included classroom and practical modules handled by CAF Elite Instructor and FIFA Technical Expert Abrham Mebratu, and 15 of the best coaches in Nigeria were involved in the pace-setting train-the-trainers on-field drills and theoretical grills.
President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who attended the closing ceremony, said he was fulfilled that the first-ever course has finally taken place, opening the gate for more of such courses for Nigerian coaches to really develop themselves.
“Without any disrespect meant, the truth is that most of our coaches are just calling themselves ‘coaches’ without having any real grasp of modern tactics and techniques. With this course, we can now begin to see positive changes as the new instructors will be encouraged to organize courses for the benefit of colleagues.”
Augustine Eguavoen, NFF Technical Director, who was among the group of 15 participants, said: “It was an interesting experience for me. Now, we have 15 coaching instructors in Nigeria who can organize coaching courses for their colleagues. It is a great feeling and our coaches will be the better for it.”
Eguavoen and staff worked their socks off for weeks putting the dots and marks in the right places, and he says he feels fulfilled that everything went as planned.
“Mr Mebratu is a genius, a hard working one at that. Tireless and well-grounded. I believe that our coaches, including myself, gained so much from the course,” Eguavoen added.
The group of 15 also included president of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Isah Ladan Bosso (who recently took the Flying Eagles to the quarter finals of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina), former Super Eagles’ captain Daniel Amokachi, Alphonsus Dike, Stanley Eguma, Wemimo Oni Mathew, Henry Abiodun, Sam John Obuh, Edema Fuludu, Bala Nikyu and Lawrence Ndaks.
Also at the closing ceremony were NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu and Executive Committee members, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa and Alhaji Babagana Kalli.
