The Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Coach Austin Eguavoen, has pledged to promote Lanreleke Sports Academy in Ile-Ogbo for national team camping, describing its facilities as top notch.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists led by its Chairman, Comrade Dr. Adeyemi Aboderin, to the Academy, the venue of the ongoing NFF CAF D Coaching License Course hosted by the Osun State Football Association, Eguavoen commended the management of the academy and the Osun FA.
He said, “The learning environment is awesome and the lush green pitch where practical sessions are taking place is fantastic. I will recommend this place to many teams including national teams for camping. There will be full concentration here due to wonderful hostels and other facilities. I am fully impressed by the facilities provided by Osun FA and the management of this academy.”
Responding to questions from journalists at the academy, Eguavoen explained that the CAF D Licence remains the entry path to all CAF coaching licences. He disclosed that 40 coaches are currently undertaking the course in Ile-Ogbo, stressing that “it’s not about quantity, it’s about quality.”
According to him, anyone who wishes to pursue a career in coaching must be certified, as the NFF is taking coaches’ education very seriously. He assured that the coaches will not be left alone after the course, as necessary mentors will be provided to guide them, while encouraging female coaches to come on board and take advantage of such opportunities.
The Chairman of Osun State Football Association, Mayor Sola Fanawopo, who welcomed the NUJ delegation to the Academy, described the atmosphere of the institute as beautiful and inspiring for football development. He commended the management of Lanreleke Sports Academy for putting up world-class sporting infrastructures, noting that the facilities have been immensely useful for state teams, private academies and individual athletes seeking top-level training environment.
Fanawopo said the Osun FA deliberately brought the CAF D License programme to Ileogbo to help grassroots coaches acquire the required knowledge and necessary certifications that will enable them to give quality coaching to kids at the foundation level. He said building the capacity of local coaches is critical to the future of football in Osun and Nigeria at large.
He also expressed profound appreciation to Eguavoen, who led other top facilitators to the state for the course, saying the gains of the coaching course will be felt not only by the participating coaches but by the entire football ecosystem in Osun State.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Osun NUJ Council, Comrade Dr. Adeyemi Aboderin, highlighted the importance of the media in sporting development, noting that no sporting revolution can succeed without adequate publicity. He promised that the Osun NUJ will continue to support every sporting development initiative in the state, and lauded the Osun FA and Lanreleke Sports Academy for raising the bar of grassroots football development in Osun State.
