Many youngsters at Arewa Warriors FC, from Temidire Field in Ile-Epo area of Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, are being powered by motivation provided from fond memories of their coach, Ramon Monsuru, who played as a kid for John Utaka Football Academy in Minna, Niger State.
Sports247 gathered that the experience he gained while growing up in Northern Nigeria inspired him to name the team Arewa Warriors when he set about putting the now vibrant academy into motion in October 2023 and he often shares memories about Utaka with his players.
Just three years later, Arewa Warriors are in the final of the highly prestigious annual Seamoriow U15 Football Competition, which they hope to win this Sunday, when they tango the youth event sponsor’s team at his illustrious astro-turf arena in Islamic area of Ikotun, Lagos.
It promises to be a tough encounter, but Coach Monsuru, who also played as a centre back at Alliance FC of Minna during his active days, believes his wards are good enough to shock the host’s team in Sunday’s final, then go back home with trophy and cash at stake.
He will once again count on adequate technical support from his assistant, Oloruntolani Olorunfemi, who serves a key role for the team in terms of scouting for talents and adding tactical tips to back Monsuru during matches.
Both coaches will once again put heads together to ensure that their players put up a brilliant performance that would be good enough to win against the defending champions in the fifth edition of the vastly popular championship.
They will also count on excellent marshalling and marking from their captain, Samuel Ibeanusi, a rock solid central defender, who emerged as man of the match in Arewa’s thrilling semi-finals victory over Dazzle Football Academy of Surulere via penalties.
“We want to win the final on Sunday and I believe we will win it, with God on our side,” said Monsuru, after his team came from behind to defeat Pumah FA of Akowonjo via penalties in Thursday’s second semi-final.
Monsuru will again remind his wards that they can excel like Utaka, whose most memorable day with the Super Eagles came when he scored Nigeria’s winning goal against Cameroon in a quarter-finals match of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
