The leading candidate for the Chairmanship position in the forthcoming Lagos State Coaches Association’s election, David Apelete Dosu has revealed some of his plans for the Association if voted into office.
Speaking exclusively to Sport 247 in his office, Coach Dosu who is the current Chairman of Ikeja Division of the Coaches Association acknowledges the great works the current state Executive has done but said that he hopes to build on their achievements in other to place the Lagos Coaches on a higher pedestal.
The soft-spoken coach noted that his quest to lead the State Chapter followed the push and support from coaches from within and outside the Ikeja Division who are desirous to have the success story he has achieved in the Ikeja Division replicated across the state. “It was under my tenure that Ikeja Divisional Coaches got an office accommodation and as we speak, the State Chapter is yet to have one. One of my immediate priorities on getting into office is to use my network and quality relationships with both the Lagos Football Association and the Sports Commission to get a befitting office that Coaches in Lagos will be proud of”.
According to Dosu who is the elder brother to Ex-Nigerian goalkeeper, Joseph Dosu, his emergence as Chairman of the Lagos Coaches will focus on ushering in a new lease of life for coaches through such projects as Health Insurance scheme and capacity building and personal development training.
“I also want to build a system that will protect the interest of our coaches regarding their relationships with the respective club owners. We will engage club owners to make them see the importance of signing contract papers even if the monetary compensation is not high. It gives a coach a sense of self-worth when he knows that his job is assured”, he added. Other initiatives the former coach of First Bank Fc of Lagos and Gateway FC of Abeokuta are muting is the creation of bonding and networking opportunities among the coaches and their families as well as attracting sponsorship for the coaches and their programs.
Also speaking to Sports247, the Secretary of the Ikeja Divisional Coaches Association, Babatunde Adeshina Oyebande confirmed that it was the members and other Executives of the Ikeja Div. that insisted that Dosu should contest for the State position.
“We know what it was before he took over here and what it is now. We also know what other Divisions are like so we convinced him to take to the State what he has done in Ikeja”. Mr. Oyebande added that the Ikeja Division members are giving Coach Dosu all the support he needs and we as other coaches to support him because he will do a great job. “One thing about our Chairman (Dosu) is that he is a team player and a bridge-builder”. He concluded.
Coach David Dosu came from a family of 3 goalkeepers; aside from Dosu Joseph, his other younger brother John is the goalkeeper trainer of MFM Fc, Lagos.
During his playing days, Coach Dosu had a brilliant career with various teams including Recca Rovers FC (now Kano Pillars) Kano and Dradgon FC of Cotonu, Benin Republic. Aside from First Bank and Gateway, he also coached Go-Round Fc Omoku and Messia Fc where he helped them gain promotion from Amateur Div. 2 to Div. 1.
