Sports
Elegbeleye charges NPFL Club Managers to embrace Technology in Coaching
At a seminar for the Nigeria Premier Football League Clubs Managers Association (NPFLCMA) in Ikenne, Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL Chairman enjoined the participants to interact and share knowledge to improve the competitive level of the league.
While reminding the Coaches that nobody has a monopoly of knowledge, the NPFL Chairman argued that such interaction and knowledge sharing will improve the capacity of individual Coaches and lead to higher level of competition in tactics and match setup.
He warned that for Coaches to remain relevant in the era of technology-driven football management, they must also embrace and acquire scientific tools for performance analysis as well as resist having over bloated squads.
“Imagine that some of our clubs register over 40 players for a season while some actually have 60 players, with the majority of them not enjoying playing time.
“We therefore have a situation where money that could be used in acquiring football technology tools are spent on salaries of unproductive players”, he lamented.
Elegbeleye also charged the Club Managers to be role models on and off the football field, reminding them that they bear the burden of raising players who must be good in their profession and also in character.
“As coaches, you play a vital role in shaping the future of Nigerian football. Your dedication, expertise, and passion are essential in developing the skills and talents of our young players. I urge you to continue striving for excellence, to innovate, and to inspire your players to reach new heights.
“As a Coach, you must foster a culture of fair play, respect, and sportsmanship, both on and off the pitch”, he told the members of the association led by Shooting Stars Manager, Gbenga Ogunbote.
He further issued a practice direction on the relationship between Coaches and the Media, harping on the mandatory requirement for attendance at post match interviews.
“Our rules recognise the importance of the media hence it provided for compulsory post match pressers which requires the Coach to grant media interview at the end of every league match, whether your team won or lost.
“You must show example of good sportsmanship to your players by granting post match interviews even when your team is defeated. A rich media content not only benefits the media, but contributes in taking the league story to our homes through mobile devices, radio, television and print media. Let us make this one of our cardinal pledge to work towards a better 2025/26 NPFL season”, Elegbeleye charged the Technical heads.
In his welcome address, Ogunbote remarked that the association is very appreciative of the presence of the NPFL Chairman and gave assurances that they would put to good use the knowledge that will be imparted by the various resource persons.
Among top football personalities who graced the opening ceremony were the Chairman of Remo Stars, Hon. Kunle Soname who is also the association’s patron, Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Augustine Eguavoen, and Harry Iwuala, the NPFL Communications Director.
Pic: From right, Hon. Kunle Soname, Chairman of Remo Stars, Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye, the NPFL Chairman and Augustine Eguavoen, NFF Technical Director Photo credit: Adebayo Suleiman (Pooja Media)
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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