Skip to content

FCAAN satisfied with year 2021; will raise the bar in 2022

The leadership of the Football Coaches Association of African Nations (FCAAN) has expressed satisfaction with the body’s output for the year 2021 and has declared that it has great expectations for the coming year, which promises to be highly exciting with the Africa Cup of Nations for both men and women, global youth women tournaments and the FIFA World Cup finals for men.

Speaking from his base in the United States of America, FCAAN President, Dr Terry Babatunde Eguaoje averred that organizing six courses of different grades across the federation in the outgoing year was a huge improvement on the state of paralysis imposed by the novel coronavirus pandemic in the year 2020.

“During the year 2020, we had to see what we could do online services as the ban on public and social gatherings made seminars and workshops impossible. Based off that fact, we have to be grateful for what have been able to achieve this year, even as we are confident of doing better in year 2022.

“Our focus next year would be on higher-grade courses as we focus hard on our vision of building a large population of coaches who have sound, correct education and are attuned to modern methods and techniques, which will help to improve the standard of the game in Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” said Eguaoje, who is also Consultant on Coaching and Development to the Nigeria Football Federation.

FCAAN’s resolve and commitment to its vision ensured that it explored and exploited online training possibilities and opportunities even during the lockdowns and restrictions of the pandemic period.

“We kept going by doing online programmes and we thank our able resource persons for their quick adaption and flexibility. Much knowledge was imparted during the period. It helped us to keep the momentum of several years and go full throttle when the restrictions were lifted.

Eguaoje added: “This year, we had one D course, one E course and two F courses in Lagos, one F course in Port Harcourt and one C course in Akure. A total of six courses in all.

“All these could not have been possible without the active support and endorsement of the Nigeria Football Federation. We are grateful for the NFF President and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, the entire NFF Board and the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi. We aim to do even better in the year 2022.”

At the end of the D course in Lagos, Coach of Nigeria Women Premier League side FC Robo, Emmanuel Osahon said: “I thought I knew so much about coaching, but attending the course showed me that I have so much ground to cover. I can’t wait for the C course.”

After the C course in Akure, Head Coach of Nigeria Professional Football League side, Wikki Tourists FC, Kabiru Dogo had this to say: “I have been a top-flight coach for a long time but what I have learnt here shows that FCAAN has so much to offer.”

First Vice President of the NFF, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, who as Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association has played host to four different FCAAN programmes within the year, has this to say: “What FCAAN is doing will help us build our football identity again.”

On his part, Eguaoje is full of praises for both established and upcoming coaches who have seen reason to enhance capacity through quality education in modern methods and techniques. “The future of our football will be assured if coaches don’t shy away from regular courses and are ready to apply the knowledge gained to improve the standard of the game.”

nv-author-image

Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu

Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu popularly known as tobex is the Vice chairman of Sports writers Association of Nigeria , lagos Chapter. She Is also the Media Spokesperson of the Super Falcons of Nigeria. She is an award winning women's football writer. Tobex is also an ex footballer that was privileged to play in the first NFF organised women's league in 1990 as a player of Hamza Queens. Her last club as an active footballer was Ibom Angels as She paved way to further her education years ago. She is a Federal Government scholar , with a degree in Mass communication, a second degree in Public Relations and Advertising (Communication Studies). She is a Wife and Mother.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Skip to content