Sports
From London to Abuja: Mikel Arteta and Bunmi Haruna Share a Vision of Resilience and Tactical Innovation
Arsenal FC of London and Abuja-based FWC Champions FC share a compelling narrative of resilience and ambition. Both teams have faced challenges in their pursuit of titles: Arsenal has been without an EPL trophy for over two decades, while FWC FC has not secured a major title in nearly seven years.
In the wake of recent struggles, Arsenal boldly appointed former player Mikel Arteta in 2019, and in 2024, FWC FC took a decisive step by introducing the dynamic young coach Bunmi Haruna, a former assistant coach for Nigeria’s U-17 team. Both are passionate about their craft, with Arteta born in Spain in 1982 and Haruna just a year younger.
Reflecting on his first year, Haruna hailed it as both demanding and transformative. He successfully guided his team through an unbeaten league season, bringing them back into the conversation for top-tier contention. While they experienced a setback in the promotion playoff, losing on penalties, their captivating style of play has garnered a growing fanbase, especially in Jos. Additionally, the club celebrated its triumph in the FCT Pre-season Tournament, marking its first trophy in five years.
Looking ahead, FWC FC has set ambitious goals for itself, targeting promotion to the NNL and a state FA Cup victory by 2025. Haruna is dedicated to developing players for European opportunities and building a robust scouting network to help African talents make their mark in top-tier football. He envisions a future where players can secure positions with prestigious clubs like Barcelona and Chelsea by 2025.
“Our targets are clear: promotion to the NNL and the state FA Cup. I am committed to helping young talents in Africa achieve their dreams of playing for elite European clubs through my scouting network.
“I’m also among the few Nigeria-based coaches proficient in the latest video analysis software to dissect football games.
“I look forward to applying this expertise to continental teams and our national squad in the coming year,” said coach Bunmi Haruna.
Haruna expressed his admiration for Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and his innovative set-piece routines. Impressively, over half of FWC FC’s goals in the NLO 1 Super 8 came from set pieces—tactics he mastered alongside Nigeria’s top youth team coaches.
“Set pieces are vital in modern football. I watch numerous Arsenal matches—not to imitate but to understand the strategic principles behind their offensive and defensive play, particularly during set pieces.
“I have learned immensely from working alongside Nigeria’s youth team coaches, including Manu Garba, Nduka Ugbade, Emmanuel Amunike, and Haruna Ilerika. They emphasize the impact of set pieces, which can shift the game’s dynamics in your favor, even when the team isn’t at its best,” Haruna concluded confidently.
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured6 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
