The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed delight with the successful conclusion of the first-ever Coaches’ Instructors Course, which took place in Abuja last week and had 32 top coaches in attendance.
The NFF’s General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, himself a qualified coach and one of the instructors, spoke on this.
Sanusi said the objective of the course was to create a forum for Nigeria’s football teachers to share ideas and learn from one another in a conducive environment that made both theoretical and practical sessions easy to deal with.
He said: “Personally, I am enamoured by the quality of resource persons and the quality of work that was shared round, at both practical and classroom sessions.
“Everyone played their part brilliantly and it was a hugely satisfying week in which participants learnt so much.
“As a Federation, the NFF has a sense of fulfilment that for the first time in history, we were able to conduct this course of train-the-trainers.
“It is our belief that it was worthwhile and we are convinced that Nigeria Football will be the better for it.”
Among the instructors were ivory tower titans: Dr. Abiodun Salami (who is Director of Sports at the University of Ibadan) and Dr. Festus Adegoju (also from the premier university).
Lawrence Ndaks is a lecturer at the National Institute of Sports and Alphonsus Dike was one of the first coaches in Nigeria to acquire a university second degree.
Both dazzled in the classroom sessions alongside Adegoju, Salami and Sanusi.
There were also coaches Ladan Bosso, Sam John Obuh, Justine Madugu, Christopher Danjuma, Fatai Amoo, Victor Nwakanma, Dokubo Daboere, Bala Nikyu, Austin Iyamu, Dipreye Teibowei, Evans Ogenyi, Caleb Esu, Adeoye Onigbinde, Henry Abiodun, Kehinde Anjorin, Tunde Oladeinde, Abdu Maikaba, Hakeem Busari, Stanley Eguma and Usman Haruna ‘Ilerika’.
Former Nigeria internationals Edema Fuludu and Toyin Ayinla were also involved.
Facilitators were NFF Technical Director, Austin Eguavoen; Deputy Director (Technical), Dr. Robinson Okosun; and former Nigeria internationals: Siji Lagunju and Abdulrafiu Yusuf.
Among the topics treated in the classroom were: The Playing Systems – The Game and Tactica Strategies; Basic Tactics and Strategies; New Trends in Football; Periodization/Planning for the Season; Qualities and Responsibilities of Coaches in a Team in Modern Day Football; Development of Learning and Teaching Principles; Management Style; Match and Data Analysis of Top Level Football; and How to Create a Winning Team.