Chairman of the Bayelsa State Football Association, Barr Poubeni Ogun has declared that henceforth any coach without a CAF-B Licence would not be allowed to manage a football club in the state.
Ogun stated this at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Ekeki, Yenagoa while declaring open a 4-day coaching clinic for grassroots football coaches in the state, put together by the organizers of the Bayelsa Governor's Football Tournament in conjunction with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Bayelsa State Football Association.
One of the resource persons at the coaching clinic delivering his lecture
Ogun clarified that the requirement of a CAF-B certificate before anyone can manage a club in the state is as a result of Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations.
He noted that the state football-ruling body and the organizers of the Prosperity Cup are working out modalities to ensure that grassroots coaches in the state have the NFF coaching D-License certificate, stating that the National Institute of Sports, NIS certificate is no longer an equivalent of the CAF-B certificate.
According to him, "Henceforth, because of CAF regulations, if you want to be a coach in Nigeria you must first obtain NFF-D licence. No equivalent any more. If you go to the National Institute of Sports (NIS) and expect to secure a CAF-C certificate, you won't be allowed. We have put in place plans to see that you all have the NFF-D licence for a start. We will do our best to subsidise it so you do not feel the pinch too much".
Barr Poubeni Ogun, who commended the organisers of the Prosperity Cup for packaging the coaching programme, said grassroots coaches in the state are fortunate to have a platform that is capable of making them better coaches.
Speaking earlier, Director General of the Governor's Football Tournament, Mr. Ono Akpe in an address of welcome, remarked that the exercise was a preliminary workshop to prepare the coaches for the eventual NFF-D coaching licence programme slated for later this year.
D-G of the Prosperity Cup, Ono Akpe delivering his welcome address at the coahing clinic
According to him, the clinic was designed to train coaches in Bayelsa to realize their full potentials as coaches and to also earn proper certification in coaching, noting that about 50 coaches have been selected for the NFF-D coaching programme.
He explained that the essence of the exercise was to sharpen the technical abilities of grassroots football coaches in the state, and expressed joy that the Prosperity Cup is achieving its objectives apart from winning trophies.
Mr. Akpe lauded the governor, Senator Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali for providing the platform for grassroots coaches in the state to enhance their capacity.
Resource person and NFF Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen asserted that he is positive that the programme would improve grassroots coaches in the state, maintaining that his dream is to see these coaches manage big clubs and big players in the future.
NFF Technical Direcctor, Augustine Eguavoen making his presentation at the coaching clinic
He commended the Bayelsa State Government and organizers of the tournament for conceiving the vision to impact the coaches.
Two coaches, Awala Kpunpamo of Bayelsa FA and Anthony Robert of Afini FC in separate remarks, expressed gratitude to the governor, Senator Douye Diri and organizers of the Prosperity Cup for investing in the coaches.
The duo noted that the programme would equip grassroots coaches in Bayelsa and also improve the quality of football during the tournament.
The coaching clinic, which is in its 3rd edition, is aimed at preparing local coaches ahead of the seventh edition of the Prosperity Cup. The exercise, with 50 coaches in attendance, will end on Friday, March 7, 2025.
