Former Nigeria U17 Coach, Haruna, bags AFRILA award

A former assistant coach of the Nigeria national U17 team, the Golden Eaglets, Bunmi Haruna, was on Saturday at the Abuja Continental Hotel (former Sheraton Hotels), recognised for his contribution to sports development in Nigeria and Africa by the African Excellence Foundation(AFRILA).

According to the organisers, Haruna, a CAF-licensed coach, bagged the award for upholding Africa’s cultural heritage through sports.      

The awardee, who is also the chairman, the FCT chapter, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), in 2018, was appointed as one of the assistants to Coach Manu Garba to the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup in Brazil. He has also worked with former African Footballer of the Year, Coach Emmanuel Amunike and Coach Nduka Ugbade among others. 

“It is a great privilege to be recognised by Africa Legendary Awards as the Progressive Sports Hero 2023. Celebrating and upholding Africa’s heritage is a must for all of us. People most times think the European way of play or culture is superior to the African way but this is not true. The Europeans leverage Africa’s rich culture to sustain their cultures.

“From Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Austin Okocha, Mohammed Salah to even Victor Osimhen, Africa has continued to showcase her rich culture at the biggest stage. It is my hope that our leaders will stop lording foreign cultures on our people by giving the best positions and opportunities available in Africa to Africans,” Haruna, an on-air-personality (OAP) with an Abuja-based radio station told Tribune Sports. 

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