A Lagos-based grassroots football coach, Chijioke Godspoweer Anyaji (aka Coach Iyke) has stated delight with his ability to attend a recent CAF level-D course in Abuja, Sports247 reports.
The amiable youth developer, who groomed former Flying Eagles’ assistant captain, Chima Daniel Uchechi and erstwhile AC Milan of Italy teenage sensation,
Ezekiel Henry (Henty) among many orhers, is now looking forward to achieving a greater impact on Nigerian football.
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‘Coach Iyke,’ who also earlier made marks as an assistant coach with the now defunct National Grassroots Dream Team, is equally happy that he is still waxing strong with Sanatana Boys FC, which he established in 1999 at the then ever busy Volkswagen Sports Complex in Ojo area of Lagos.
He disclosed further in an exclusive chat with Sports247 that his track record also includes successes with other youth clubs like White Angels, Okey Babes and United Royal Stars, all of which he was able to uplift without the aid of a sponsor.
He added, “My strength has come from God, not from any sponsor. I even lost touch with Chima and Henty since my phone got missing, and I could not retrieve their contact information.
“I’m still in tiuch, though, with the likes of Mikel Nzekwe, Yunisa Abudulai (Van der Saar), Ahmed Omasaro, Okey Odika (Japan), Mikel Njoku (Kokumo),
Paul Banney, Ahmed Audu (Skipo), Felix Orishani, Oly Hillary, Charlibe Okolie, Amadi Ifeanyi, Iroegbu Daniel, Ayaw Williams and Ugo Ojumonu.”
The ebullient tactician then stressed that he has no regrets being a coach of kids at the grassroots and urged lovers of the game to keep supporting tacticians who sacrifice their personal wellbeing to groom boys from the streets into stardom.
He stated further, “I urge everyone to keep being supportive of those of us who are working at the grassroots. The support they give goes a long way, like a morale booster for us.
“I also appeal to all my fellow-grassroot coaches and officials to keep up the good job they are doing. They should keep on pushing, inspiring, motivating and caring for young players … as the fathers, teachers and mentors that we are.
“I pray that the Good Lord will meet all of us doing His mission of developing talents, and He will bless us abundantly, meet all our needs and crown our efforts with glory, in Jesus’ name.”
While disclosing that he is currently preparing his team for participation in the forthcoming Ojo Football Coaches League and Ayomide Gold Cup 2025, ‘Coach Iyke’ concluded with a ray of hope that the course he attended in Abuja would be a stepping stone to greater heights for him in his chosen vocation of hunting for future stars.
“My next plan and dream is to step up higher than I am. I want to handle a bigger club. Having just concluded my CAF D licence at Abuja, I believe the time has come for me to step up,” he enthused.
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