As accolades continue trailing the death of renowned grassroots football gaffer, Osahon Emokpae, a Nigerian players’ agent based in Eswatini, Victor Macdonald has described the late tactician as the most dedicated coach he has worked with, Sports247 reports.
Speaking ahead of the burial rites for the founder and head coach of Young Stars FC of Satellite Town, Lagos, Macdonald, who is now a pastor in Mbabane, recalled that Osahon was a very disciplined, sincere and straightforward man, who was loved by everyone around him.
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While disclosing that he would have loved to be present at the coach’s burial, which will take place this Friday at Atan Cemetery in Yaba, Lagos, Macdonald said Osahon was very efficient and effective, for which he should have been appointed to handle one of Nigeria’s youth national teams.
Macdonald, who is currently the head pastor at God’s Glory Ministries (GGM) in Eswatini but previously represented key players like Paul Obiefule in the Super Eagles and Perpetua Nkwocha of the Falcons, recounted how Coach Osahon achieved many laurels while working with him under the banner of Ultimate Sports Promotions for eight years.
He also noted how successful Coach Osahon was as the technical director of Vejle Football Academy, a position he got through his achievements as handler of the junior squad of National Grassroots Dream Team, which Macdonald also supported as a major sponsor and promoter.
The agent, pastor, author, businessman, philanthropist and motivational speaker recalled: “I took him to Enyimba of Aba to work as their feeders’ team coach, under the Australian technical adviser, Michael Urukalo. I also took him to Denmark three times.
“He won the Dana Cup in 2009 with Vejle Football Academy, where he worked for me as technical adviser of our combined teams from Lagos and Owerri. He was a very disciplined coach. A man who was always sincere, straightforward and loved by all.
“I lack enough words to fully describe how great he was, but he died without realising his dream of coaching one of Nigeria’s youth national teams. He spent his longest coaching period with me – eight years – and I sponsored him to a 45-day coaching course at Vejle Boldklub in Denmark.”
Sports247 reports further that an exhibition match in the late coach’s honour this Thursday at Agboju Grammar School, opposite FESTAC Town 2nd Gate, as Badagry Division Football Assocation (BDFA) joins in paying last respects to the humble tactician, who was until recently their caretaker committee chairman.
The funeral match, which will feature Badagry Stakeholders versus Iba Coaches Council, is being touted as a befitting send forth for a man who produced two Super Eagles strikers – Paul Ebere Onuachu from Young Stars FC and Anthony Nwakaeme with Vejle Football Academy.
He also worked for some years under Barrister Churchill Oliseh at FC Ebedie of Sagamu, where players like Riliwan Hassan, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika grew under his charge, en route to becoming household names with FC Midtjylland of Denmark.
