Brace up for future challenges, Gusau charges CAF B coaching course participants

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has tasked Nigerian coaches to apply the knowledge they acquired during the CAF B Coaching Course, which ended last week in Abuja.

The programme, which spanned seven months and was divided into four modules, commenced on the 12th April this year and came to a close 6th November.

“I take pride in our achievements thus far, and although we have a year remaining in our tenure, I remain hopeful that, by the grace of God, we will reach our intended goals. Since assuming office, we have facilitated the CAF B, CAF C and CAF D License programs. The CAF C was exclusively for women, an important step considering Nigeria’s prominence in women’s football across Africa.

“To you, the participants, it’s not just about coming here to be educated, getting the certificate and going. Please, let it be the beginning of a new dawn for all of you. We are lucky to have somebody from Tanzania who has been here with us. We want to see some of you going to Tanzania to coach a club.

“That’s what we want because it’s not just about coaches coming here to acquire training, but we want to see ourselves exchanging coaches with them. It’s very important because that’s the only way we can share ideas, and we can share knowledge. As you see us, if you go to East Africa, if you go to Central Africa, our patterns of football are not the same. We know all this; therefore, it’s not just for you to go back home.

“Try hard and get a club that you are going to work with. Don’t just certificate and go sit at home. You must try as much as possible to engage yourself. If you get knowledge and you sit on it, you’re deceiving yourself,” Gusau, who is also the President, West Africa Football Union (WAFU), advised,” he said.

He assured of his administration’s intention to conduct a CAF A License coaching course before the end of his tenure in September next year.

“We are diligently working with the technical department, coaches, and instructors to initiate the CAF A License course within the first quarter of the upcoming year,” he said.

The course, which started in April this year, was attended by 25 coaches. Among others, the coaches are Super Eagles’ assistant coach, Daniel Ogunmodede; coach of the national U17 women’s team, the Flamingos, Bankole Olowookere; former international and Shooting Stars Sports Club 3SC of Ibadan legend, Duke Udi; Mutondo Mbaruku Kiapara from Tanzania; Suleiman Obinna Ali; and Madubuike Trem Igwe.

The coaches later presented plaques to Gusau, the Secretary General, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, NFF Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen and the former Zambian coach and CAF Instructor, Honour Janza, for their support.

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