A veteran grassroots football coach, Chijioke Gabriel Osuagwu (Ogburonu), who handled former Super Eagles attacker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie in his youth days, has been appointed to the technical crew of Enyimba FC of Aba.
Apart from grooming Osaze in their days together at AS Racines of Lagos, ‘Coach Chijioke’ also has a long track record of producing numerous rare talents of the round leather game.
Among his earlier products that went on to become top internationals were Stephen Ayodele Makinwa, Kazeem Atanda Yusuf (Ayila), Ifeanyi Emeghara, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Ebenezer Olufemi Ajilore, all of whom he handled at National Grassroots Dream Team in Lagos.
He then stepped up his acumen with professional football clubs, starting at Nigerdock FC, where he handled Taye Ismail Taiwo, then took charge at sister outfits, Flaming Flamingos and Stationary Stores FC of Lagos.
Coach Chijioke then went on to become head coach at Bussdor FC of Port Harcourt, Heartland of Owerri and Abia Warriors of Umuahia, which he helped gain promotion to the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) in 2009.
After a short stint with Police Machine FC of Owerri in 2011, Osuagwu, who also earlier handled the travelling squads of Ambek FC and Vejle Football Academy of Lagos, became technical director at Diamond Football Academy of Umuahia, which produced Samuel Chukwueze as well as the Nwakali brothers, Chidiebere and Kelechi.
He will now work under ex-Ajax of Holland winger, Finidi George in the technical crew of Enyimba, starting with the return leg of their CAF Champions League qualifier with Ahly Benghazi of Libya, who won the first leg 4-3 at home.
