Be diligent, aspire to greater heights, NFF boss, Gusau charges grassroots coaches

Harry Awurumibe, Editor-in-Chief, Abuja

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has called on aspiring coaches across the Federation to elect diligence and ambition as their watchwords, as the NFF is ready to select the very best among them to discover and nurture talents for the U15 and U16 National Teams.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the opening ceremony of the first-ever NFF D-License Coaching Course, Gusau reiterated the vision of the present NFF administration to power the development, sustenance and growth of Nigeria Football from the grassroots.

“After this coaching course, we are going to start our U15 and U16 programs. This program will commence from the State level, move through the zonal level and then peak at the National level. Through this program, talents are going to be identified for nurturing. It is people who excel from this course that we are going to use at the State level. We cannot bring you here to train you and then abandon you to go and pick some other persons to work with us.

“However, we must see that seriousness, diligence and passion in you to be ready to work with you. I will speak with your instructors to get me the list of those who distinguish themselves here and whom they can trust to deliver.”

The seven-day course, which will feature 40 participants, kicked off immediately it was declared open by Gusau, and about a dozen resource persons including NFF Technical Director and former Super Eagles’ captain and coach, Augustine Eguavoen, Coach Henry Abiodun, 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 will take the participants on different courses over the seven days.

Also present at the opening ceremony were Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa; NFF Executive Member and FIFA Match Commissioner Babagana Kalli; NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Coach Eguavoen; NFF Director of Legal Services, Barr. Okey Obi; NFF Deputy Director (Technical), Mrs Faith Ben-Anuge; Assistant Director (Technical), Coach Abdulrafiu Yusuf and; Chief Technical Officer, Garba Lawal.