MKA Sport football club Head Coach, Tajudeen Fesojaye has given insight as to why Nigerian teams don’t go far in continental games while also discussing the need to be grounded in football basics for consistent performance and fruitful results.
“In Nigeria, we don’t pay attention to techniques and it’s the embodiment of all tactics, when you see majority of our game,1,2,3 ball on the ground, the next is on the air, we just kick.”
“We don’t have system up till now, we just play, lock upfront to score goals, lock behind to clear the ball. When we are like this, we have no headway and that’s why we haven’t been able to see any changes.”
Professing his love for the job as foremost for success, he said, “I love this job and that’s key for greatness. I started as a teacher and that inspired me to go into my coaching career and I love doing it.”
“I am also aware that coaches can be sacked, honored and be without job, I am ready for whichever comes, it’s my passion.”
Quizzed about hope for upcoming talents in Nigeria, he vehemently stated, “there’s no hope for these footballers in Nigeria and the national team if we are to be sincere, just take a good look at my boys and their age, if it isn’t now, when then.”
“When you go into our leagues, you hardly see people clapping, they can’t pay to watch our league games then where’s the hope for us in the continental let alone the national team.”
“Until we go back to the basics which is the actual age of majority of our players, and then our coaches shouldn’t be in bondage of time.”
“They will give a coach a national team job now and then wants him to win a competition next year, how’s that feasible, until we change that attitude, then we will have a long-term project.”
Tajudeen also mentioned the need for time, patience and calmness especially when a coach is newly appointed as it takes time to hit the ground running.
It will be noteworthy that Tajudeen had a brief stint in Mauritius, played for their national team in 1993, played Calabar Rovers, Plateau United, 21 years of active play as a professional.
