Sports

Akinwunmi lauds FCAAN efforts at improving Nigeria coaches

Published

4 years ago

May 19, 2021

First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi has commended the efforts of the Football Coaches Association of African Nations (FCAAN) in enhancing the capacity of Football Coaches in Nigeria.

Akinwunmi, who is also the Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, made this known on a visit to the FCAAN ‘C’ course ongoing in the Ondo State capital, Akure on Tuesday. “I am impressed with what I have seen here because there is nothing to trump capacity –building and capacity –enhancement in any profession. Training the trainers is an important aspect of football and other sports, and what FCAAN is doing can be seen in this light.”

The seven-day programme which started on Monday has about 100 coaches in attendance. Akinwunmi spent time with the participants during match analysis session and was impressed by what he saw. FCAAN President, Dr Terry Eguaoje explained to Akinwunmi that the body presently has some of its trained coaches working in India, Oman and Benin Republic.

The NFF chieftain was in company with Chairman of the Ekiti State Football Association, Mr Bayo Olanlege and other top officials of the State Football Associations of Ondo and Ekiti States. Olanlege described the coaching programme as lofty and opined that it should be encouraged.

Eguaoje, who is NFF’s Consultant on Coaching and Development, made known his position that Football Coaches in Nigeria should start directing the affairs of the National Teams in no distant time. The ‘C’ course will round off on Saturday.

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Sports

“ This Award Gives Me Hope” Makanjuola Nureni Honoured for His Dedication to Nigerian Sports

Published

2 hours ago

November 1, 2025

The Gleamer

Abuja-based football administrator and philanthropist, Makanjuola Nureni, has been honoured with the Distinguished Service Award by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in recognition of his outstanding support to sports journalism and his immense contributions to sports development in Nigeria.

The prestigious award was presented on Friday in Abuja during SWAN’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration held in Abuja, marking 60 years of promoting sports journalism and excellence across the nation.

Expressing his gratitude after receiving the honour, Makanjuola Nureni described the award as a source of inspiration and renewed motivation to continue his lifelong commitment to youth and grassroots sports.

“This award gives me hope and motivation to do more. It’s a source of inspiration to me and my supporters, and I believe it will encourage us to invest more in youth sports development in Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the recognition serves as a morale booster after decades of hard work and silent impact in the sports community.

“I feel happy and fulfilled because we have been doing this for decades, and many times, our efforts went unnoticed. But I thank God that SWAN recognized people like us,” Nureni expressed.

Makanjuola Nureni is the founder and owner of Water FC Academy, a renowned football institution based in Abuja that focuses on discovering, nurturing, and empowering young Nigerian talents.

Through Water FC, he has developed and sponsored numerous players who have gone on to represent Nigeria’s national teams and play professionally in clubs across Africa, Europe, and beyond.

His consistency, passion, and investment in the development of young athletes have made him a key figure in Nigerian grassroots football.

In presenting the award, SWAN commended Nureni’s unwavering dedication to the growth of sports and his continuous support for sports journalism and youth empowerment.

The association highlighted his decades-long service to football development and described him as a true partner in the promotion of excellence within Nigerian sports.

The SWAN Diamond Jubilee Celebration brought together prominent figures from sports administration, the media, and government sectors to honour individuals and organizations whose contributions have advanced sports development and journalism in Nigeria.

Nureni’s recognition stands out as a testament to his vision, consistency, and commitment to creating opportunities for young athletes and strengthening the foundation of Nigerian football.

With this honour, Makanjuola Nureni further cements his legacy as one of the foremost private contributors to sports growth and youth development in Nigeria.

His story continues to inspire a new generation of sports administrators and philanthropists dedicated to transforming Nigerian sports from the grassroots up.

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