March 06, (THEWILL) – The Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Augustine Eguavoen, has said the ongoing Prosperity Cup coaching clinic will serve as a springboard for grassroots coaches in Bayelsa State to become great technocrats of the game in the future.
Eguavoen stated this while addressing participants on day two of the ongoing Prosperity Cup coaching clinic at the NUJ Press Centre, Azikoro Road, Ekeki, Yenagoa, the state capital.
He noted that mastering the rudiments of coaching at the grassroots level is vital in preparing coaches for challenging assignments, stressing that getting it right at this foundational stage would drive a massive turnaround in football development across the country.
Describing grassroots football as the bedrock of any nation’s football development, Eguavoen emphasised that Bayelsa and Nigeria stand to gain significantly by fostering an acceptable football culture through collaboration with all stakeholders, including governments at all levels and technical experts.
He expressed satisfaction with the cordial working relationship between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Bayelsa State Football Association (BSFA), pointing out that the partnership will accelerate coach development and the discovery of players with the right mentality to excel at the highest level.
Appreciating NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and Secretary-General Dr Mohammed Sanusi for their support, the NFF Technical Director said he was proud to participate in the initiative, reaffirming the Federation’s commitment to grassroots football development.
“Bayelsa has taken the lead by building the capacity of grassroots-level coaches, and I am happy to be part of this well-intended initiative. I assure you it won’t be long before we see a massive turnaround in the state’s football landscape.
“To elevate football and players to greater heights, we must first equip those who teach the game at its foundational level. This is what Governor Douye Diri is achieving through the Prosperity Cup. Bayelsa will soon reap the rewards of this effort.”
With the clinic concluding this Friday, the former Nigerian international expressed confidence that coaches will apply their newly acquired knowledge during the local government preliminaries of the Prosperity Cup tournament across the state.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali, commended lead facilitator, Augustine Eguavoen, and his team for their transformative impact on the state’s coaches.
Dr Igali, who observed the practical session at Old Assembly Quarters, Azikoro Road, Ekeki, praised the Prosperity Cup’s initiatives—particularly the coaching clinic and referees’ refresher courses—for enhancing the tournament’s credibility.
The Commissioner urged coaches to maximise the opportunity, emphasising Governor Diri’s vision to see Bayelsans managing foreign clubs and national teams.
The Third Prosperity Cup Coaching Clinic enters its third day with further sessions from resource persons.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
