Olutoye Olupitan revealed that his journey into coaching was largely shaped by the support he received from the late Major R.A. Owolabi, at a time when he was still working as a teacher with a strong passion for football and sports development.
Sports247 caught up with Coach Olutoye Olupitan, who reflected on his 22-year coaching career, the late Major R.A. Owolabi’s contribution to his development, and the inspiring story behind a remarkable U-10 championship triumph.
“My coaching career started about 22 years ago and was largely made possible by the support I received from the late Major R.A. Owolabi,” Olupitan told Sports247.
According to the coach, an opportunity was created for students to participate actively in sports after land was made available for sporting activities. However, the surface was initially unsuitable for football, forcing them to take responsibility for developing the playing field.
“There was land available, but the playing surface was not covered with grass, so we had to plant the grass ourselves. He gave me all the support I needed,” he explained.
Olupitan recalled how Major Owolabi supported the acquisition of the necessary equipment required to establish a functional school sports programme.
He also introduced a structured approach to sporting activities, making sports training three times a week compulsory for both male and female students.
The coach said the late Major’s commitment left a lasting impression on him and ultimately inspired the competition organised in his honour.
“I can never forget that gesture. This competition is simply a way of immortalising the name and legacy of Major R.A. Owolabi,” Olupitan said.
Olupitan also reflected on one of the most remarkable moments from the recently concluded age-grade competition, particularly the unexpected journey of the U-10 champions.
The team Legit Footer’s had qualified for the knockout stage as the competition’s best loser after collecting just one point. Their situation was so uncertain that they had already begun preparing to leave the competition.
However, their coach approached Olupitan to ask whether there was still a possibility of progressing.
“I told him, ‘Let’s see what happens in the other matches,’” he recalled.
Although Olupitan was not physically present for the quarter-final and semi-final matches, he closely followed the results and was stunned when he discovered that the team had progressed all the way to the final.
“When I found out that the team had reached the final, I was amazed because a team that qualified with just one point had made it to the final,” he said.
The story became even more remarkable when the team eventually won the final.
For Olupitan, the triumph represented more than just a football victory. It became a powerful lesson about perseverance and the importance of refusing to surrender when circumstances appear difficult.
“I thought to myself, this is the essence of not giving up in life. As long as there is life, there is still hope, and I learnt that from their story,” he said.
He believes the U-10 champions’ journey offers a valuable message to young players and everyone facing challenges in life: setbacks should not be mistaken for the end of the road.
“It is a good example for everyone that they should never give up on themselves,” Olupitan concluded.
