The National Sports Festival is set to hold on February 14th, 2021, and the Lagos State football team Coach has been talking tough ahead of the upcoming event in Benin City, Edo State, come next year.
Sports247 had an exclusive interview with the Coach of the almighty team of Lagos in the National Sports Festival next year, Adesina Yusuf, as he opens up to everything surrounding his team, his players, as well as his coaching career experience, ahead of the festival in 2021.
*Looking at your team, everyone wants to play for your team, what is so special about your team?
I give kudos to the Lagos State Government, as well as the able Governor, Sports commission, State FA, and All football academy in Lagos State, we watch them daily and pick the best out of them and assemble them. We are keeping these talents to make sure that we give them the right support. Before lockdown till now, we are still unbeaten, which is why everyone wants to play for the Lagos State team.
*Close to five or six players from the Lagos State team made it to the WAFU tournament, what exactly are you doing with this team?
Again, I will give kudos to the Lagos State Government, because they have given us the backing to look for raw talents from various Lagos State Academies. Lagos State team picks from the best of the bests from the academies, that’s just it.
*Having the Sports Festival on February 14th, 2021 after all the postponement and uncertainty, what is your take on this?
I believe that by God’s Grace, February 14th, 2021, we would be in Edo and it would be time for us to showcase what we have not only to Nigeria alone but also to the world. When we get to Edo, we are going to show class, because I expect that come February 14th, 2021, all Lagos State team will do well at the festival.
*There is a Certain number 10 in your team, tell us about that special player
My Number 10’s name is Saviour. He is a very intelligent player. I adore him so much, he plays to instructions. He has the techniques and basics of a footballer and I believe that this boy is going places. Saviour is not the only special player in the team, we have other players that are playing well. I believe that if any scout in the world comes to view our team, he would pick all our players because they are raw talents and I am proud of them.
*Every coach has a target for himself, as a Coach, what target have you set for yourself?
My target is to make a positive impact on the Lagos State team and football in general. I am still in Lagos State, if anything comes up, we will see to it.
*What kind of training did you pass through that made things easy for you?
I pass through NIS, CAF course in Nigeria, and so on, that is why I am performing at this level. I hope if I have the opportunity of going abroad to further my coaching career, I will because I want to help my career as a coach.
*What pushed you into coaching, being a very difficult Career?
To me, a coach is as good as your last result. In football, Coaching is hiring and firing. It has to do with passion, you must have that love for the game, you must like your players and be able to manage your players. When footballers have a happy mind, they will be able to play good football. You must encourage your players when they are down, telling them that you believe in them and everything they are doing. I had a passion for coaching when I was still playing. As a coach, you must believe in yourself, your players as well as your philosophy.
*A lot of people say if we want to develop our team, our attitude towards tournaments shouldn’t be bent on a “Must win”, do you think we can keep a coach not winning?
It depends on the target of the Coach. We know that in Nigeria set up, if they give you a coaching job, they will also give you a target, that’s where the problem is coming from. But for the developmental stage, at the U17, U20, they don’t need to give these coaches target, they should allow these Coaches to grow, from U17 to U20, From U20 to U23, and from U23 to the Super Eagles. The most important thing is for us to develop these young players and give these coaches time to develop them. Coaches should also not play overaged players, play the right age for tournaments, even if we win or lose.
Coach Adesina Yusuf will hope to lead the Lagos State football team to victory at next year’s National Sports Festival in Benin, Edo State.
