Trabzonspor of Turkey striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu has been cited as a credible footballer whose recognition of the coach that brought him up from childhood into limelight should be emulated by other top players from Nigeria.
Sports247 reports that this citation was provided by former Heartland FC of Owerri head coach, Chijioke Gabriel Osuagwu, who issued a clarion call to Nigerian football stars to always remember people who groomed them at the grassroots.
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Coach Chijioke, who also handled Flaming Flamingos, Stationery Stores and AS Racines FC of Lagos as well as Abia Warriors of Umuahia and Police Machine of Owerri, made the call in an audio message that went vital across social media on Thursday night.
The outspoken tactician, who is fondly called ‘Oburuonu’ and also previously took charge at Bussdor FC, posted the emotional message in reaction to the postponement of a memorial football competition that was initially scheduled for this past Thursday to honour late Coach Osahon Emokpae, who was his assistant in their days together at National Grassroots Dream Team.
He, however, faulted many stakeholders of youth development and club owners who benefitted from the charitable efforts of all coaches that worked with the academy team of Nigerian Grassroots Football Federation (NGFF), then charged them to rally round and make the competition become a memorable reality at a later date.
Osuagwu declared, “Concerning the death of my beloved colleague and coach at Nigeria Grassroots Football Federation, I must speak because I am involved. The decision to take proper attention and rearrange the memorial competition for Coach Osahon Emokpae is very good.
“I am calling on those who this falls on their table at National Grassroots Football Federation, and those who we helped their teams to grow, like FC Ebedie of Sagamu, to be fully involved.
“They should not approach this matter sluggishly. We did our tasks out of brotherly love and willingness to expose those young players but, today, we are not recognised. It’s time for that to change.”
The veteran tactician, who handled former Super Eagles players, Stephen Ayodele Makinwa and Ifeanyi Emeghara at Frankelson United of Surulere, then groomed Kazeem Ayila at Stores FC of Lagos, concluded by serving a strong charge to players to always remember the men who toiled in building their careers from scratch.
“Many players don’t remember where they came from. Some will pretend as if they don’t know you. But, I thank God that I have made my name in Nigerian soccer, and I’ve paid my dues very well.
“Unfortunately, after sweating hard to take these players to greater height, they don’t care to remember how they started. Many of them even played for the Super Eagles.
“Many of them don’t recognise all our efforts; but it’s time for them to show appreciation for all we did for them. I thank God that Paul Onuachu remembers all that Osahon did for him as his personal coach, who helped him to the green light.
“The truth, though, is that Paul Onuachu is not the only player who Osahon helped. There are many others as well. So, I pray that the management of NGFF will do the needful and organise this competition very well,” Osuagwu affirmed.
