…Eguavoen Hails Bayelsa FA, Prosperity Cup, for Collaboration
Bayelsa has become the first State in the country to facilitate the NFF-D licence for its grassroots coaches.
The Technical Director of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Austine Eguavoen confirmed this while speaking at the closing ceremony of a five-day NFF-D Licence Coaching Course for grassroots coaches held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Augustine Eguavoen, in his address, said Bayelsa State is the first in the nation to give grassroots coaches the opportunity to obtain NFF-D Licence, maintaining that the development of football is in the hands of grassroots coaches.
While commending the organisers of the Prosperity Cup and the State Football Association for the collaboration, he charged the coaches to reflect what they have been taught during the exercise when they go back to their various clubs.
The NFF Technical Director commended the Bayelsa State Government for its foresight in packaging the coaching programme, pointing that its consistency is sponsoring the Prosperity Cup and the conduct of capacity-building initiatives year in, year out, was eloquent testimony to the State government’s commitment to grassroots football development as well as other sports.
In his remarks, Director General of the Prosperity Cup, Mr Ono Akpe, remarked that the series of coaching courses for grassroots coaches was reflecting on the performance of the coaches in the State.
He noted that the continuous investment in grassroots coaches in the State is a seed that would bear quality fruits in the future, pointing out that the future of football in the State belongs to the grassroots.
While appreciating the NFF Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen and his team for impacting the coaches, the DG said the success story of the Prosperity Cup would be incomplete without the support of the Bayelsa State Football Association.
Also speaking at the occasion, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Football Association, Barr Porbeni Ogun, who also participated in the coaching programme, urged the coaches not to see the exercise as a waste of time but to see it as a stepping stone to their respective careers, describing the exercise as impactful.
He hinted that the plan of the State Football Association concerning coaches, at the moment, was to facilitate a CAF-C licence coaching course to broaden the scope of their knowledge before the year runs out.
Also, former Bayelsa United coach, Monday Odigie and ex-international, Edema Fuludu in separate interviews, described the exercise as lifetime investment to the coaches, urging them to utilize the opportunity.
Two participants, Akren Beauty of the Ezuogha Soccer Academy and Andrew Owutuamor of Rich Destiny FC, lauded the Bayelsa State Football Association and the Prosperity Cup for the gesture, stressing that the exercise has positively impacted them.
The coaching course, which was organized by the Prosperity Cup in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Football Association, is aimed at equipping coaches in the State with modern coaching techniques as well as the requisite qualification for career progression.
