History was made in Lagos on Saturday as the first batch of 100 grassroots football coaches graduated from the National Institute for Sports (NIS).
This milestone marks the conclusion of a one-month specialised training course, facilitated by the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) in collaboration with Africa’s premier sports training centre, the NIS.
During the graduation ceremony, Professor Olawale Moronkola, the Director-General/CEO of the National Institute for Sports, congratulated the new coaches, recognizing the significance of their achievement.
He emphasized the impact of this initiative on grassroots football and the broader Nigerian football system.
“This initiative was born out of the pressing need to address the challenge of unqualified coaches and the widespread presence of quackery in our football system,” Moronkola stated.
He also commended the LSFA for its unwavering commitment to improving grassroots football. “Your commitment to developing grassroots football is commendable, and together, we can continue to build a robust framework that supports the growth of the sport at all levels,” he added.
The collaboration between the NIS and the LSFA is seen as a game-changer for Lagos football, as the training provided the new coaches with the tools and knowledge needed to help young footballers develop their talents.
The goal is to create a more structured and professional football environment at the grassroots level.
Hajji Gafar Liameed, Chairman of the LSFA, expressed his excitement over the success of the program. He emphasized that this pilot batch was just the beginning of a broader plan to train over 5,000 grassroots coaches over the next four years.
“This is a momentous feat. The ripple effect of this training will greatly benefit Lagos State and Nigerian football as a whole,” Gafar said, as he envisioned the establishment of a sustainable football ecosystem in Lagos and beyond.
With this initiative, the future of Nigerian grassroots football looks brighter than ever.
