By Andrew Abah, Abuja
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 closing ceremony of the programme, which took participants through both practical and classroom sessions, Sanusi said the NFF has, through the Technical Department, identified those among the participants that 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, and it was approved. We decided to do the D-License first in order to identify and empower those coaches who work with young talents at the grassroots, and those among them who will be able to help the NFF administration’s vision of developing the game from that point.
“I have been informed by the Technical Department that a good number of the participants exhibited great knowledge and understanding, and will be able to work on our youth prorgammes.
“They have all been certificated and enjoined to be even more professional in their work, and make diligence and hard work their watchwords.”
A total of 40 coaches participated at the week-long programme, 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 brace up to the task of identifying and nurturing the next generation of Nigeria’s football stars.
“It is a non-negotiable fact that we must keep the supply chain rolling, and with good talent as well. Apart from the fact that football is a booming industry, it is the biggest factor that unites and creates the strongest bond among peoples from diverse places, culture, language, religion, orientation and backgrounds. We must endeavour at all times to ensure that football is working at optimum level.
“In a few weeks, we will organize the women’s version of this D-License programme, and subsequently await CAF’s approval for higher-grade courses (C, B & A in that order) in the course of 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 a retired director in the NFF Technical Department, Dr. Robinson Okosun.
