Haruna Doda is no stranger to the beautiful game. From the bustling streets of Nigeria to the grand stages of Europe and Asia, Doda’s journey has been one of relentless passion, hard work, and unyielding dedication.
As a former international player who has graced fields from Lebanon to Portugal, Doda’s career is decorated with numerous accolades. However, his true calling emerged off the field, where his vision for youth development began to take shape.
After hanging up his boots, Doda turned to coaching, inspired by his former coach Brian Talbot of Arsenal fame.
His ability to convey complex football concepts with clarity and his natural leadership skills quickly set him apart. For the past 15 years, Doda has dedicated himself to nurturing young talent, driven by a burning desire to see the next generation surpass his achievements. His philosophy is rooted in modern methodologies and a deep understanding of the game’s evolving dynamics.
Now, Doda is ready to bring his expertise and innovative approach back home. With the Nigeria Football Federation’s support, he aims to transform youth football in Nigeria, restoring its former glory and setting new standards for the future.
Profile
Haruna Doda is an ex-international footballer with a prolific playing career spanning continents and a distinguished coaching journey marked by transformative success in youth development. With 15 years of coaching experience, Doda’s mission is to elevate Nigerian youth football through principled work and innovative methodologies such as Long-Term Player Development, effective periodization, and modern technologies.
“My desire to see the younger ones come and do better than in my time is a craving unquenched. My vision to transform the game to a different level of dynamics in enhancing performance cannot be measured.”
Employment History
Clubs Coached:
– MTARFA Football Nursery| Position:Director of Youth Coaching
– Hibernians Football Nursery | Position: Coach, Hibernians U17
– MTARFA/Dingli Football Nursery | Position: Director of Youth Coaching
– Paola Hibernians Football Academy| Position: Head Coach
Portuguese Playing Career:*
– Clubs:
– Os Belenenses, SD Santa Clara, Desportivo Aves
– Honors:
– Best New African Player, Player of the Season (Santa Clara SD)
African and Asian Playing Career:
– Clubs:
– Bendel Insurance, Delta Steel Pioneers, Enugu Rangers, SAFA Sporting Club
– Honors:
– African Player of the Year (Beirut), SAFA Top Scorer, WAFU Cup Winner (Bendel Insurance)
Coaching Philosophy
Haruna Doda’s coaching philosophy revolves around creating a game culture that integrates technical, tactical, physical, and mental development with strong parental engagement. His proactive approach emphasizes effective possession, creative individual play, and intelligent collective pressing.
Attacking Principles:
– Dispersal: Creating space with width and depth.
– Penetration: Exploiting spaces for possession.
– Movement: Off-ball movement to create space.
– Support: Supporting the player on the ball from multiple directions.
– Innovation/Creativity: Encouraging individual creativity and collective innovation.
Defensive Principles:
– Winning the ball back intelligently and quickly.
– Organizing defensively to deny opponents’ forward plays.
– Maintaining compactness, balance, and depth.
Languages
– English
– Portuguese
– Spanish
– French/Italian
Footballing Education
– UEFA A Elite (2023)
– UEFA B Licence (2012)
– UEFA C Licence
– Director of Youth Coaching (DYC) (2014)
– Health and Fitness Instructor Diploma*
Coaching Journey Highlights
– 2011-2014: Built a strong foundation at MTARFA, introducing modern game philosophies and achieving historic league positions.
– 2015-2017: Transformed Paola Hibernians U17, implementing a possession-dominant style and returning the team to the top league.
– 2018-2020: Returned to MTARFA, re-establishing long-term player development strategies and creating a female sector.
– 2021-2023: Led Paola Hibernians Academy through comprehensive restructuring, enhancing both grassroots and competitive football.
Haruna Doda stands poised to bring his vast experience and innovative coaching methods to the Nigeria Football Federation, aiming to restore the glory of Nigerian youth football.
