Coach of the U17 female National team, Bankole Olowookere has stated that the future of any footballing Nation is in the Grassroot.
The Sporting Director of Naija Ratels Football Club admitted this during his visit to the Soccer Temple Stadium in Agege, where he came to scout for young and potential female football talents for Naija Raties and who he could invite to his team (The Nigerian Female U17 Team) to execute games.
In an exclusive interview with the former Dreamstar Ladies Coach, the experienced Gaffer stated his admiration for Grassroots football and scouting for young and potential football talents, as well as so many issues surrounding the Nigerian U17 female team.
*Why are you at the Agege Stadium today?
I am here today to scout for players at the Grassroot. I am a Grassroot Coach and a Grassroot developer, which I believe in and I love to pick players from the Grassroot. The Grassroot is the future of any footballing country, and I am here to hunt for talent, that is why I am here, because I believe that Lagos is the home of grassroots development, because there is a lot of great work being done by our grassroots coaches.
*Being the Coach of the Female U17 Team, what are your plans on female Grassroot players, especially here in Lagos?
As I said, Lagos is the home of Grassroot Development here in Nigeria, and our Grassoot coaches are doing a fantastic job here, the only way I can pay them is to take some of these bright talents to the limelight and these coaches would get their rewards, both financially and equipment-wise, so as to continue the good work.
*Tell us about the girls we always see here in Agege being coached by you?
There is no magic in this life without Hardwork, while I was the Coach of Dreamstar ladies, I put all I had, physically, spiritually, and financially, and everything. I made sure that I carried the team along in all that I am doing. The Coaches in the team (Dreamstar ladies) are the coaches that have worked with me, so they continued the good work. I still give them my support in every game they play including the last game they won (3-2, against Ibom Angels). The Coaches and the players as well support me a lot, so that is just it.
*Looking at the Coaches of our National teams, the Male U17 and U20 teams not doing too well at the WAFU Tournament, will this put pressure on you to perform?
Well, for me, I have never been under pressure before. The reason is that Coaching is ‘turn by turn’. I will perform my own abilities and leave someday, another person will come and take over from where I stopped. I just want to make my mark on the team, regardless of what is happening to other National team Coaches. For Me, My team is a Work in Progress, it’s a total developmental programme. I am not sleeping, I am always working and I thank my New Chairman, Naija Ratels Football Club President, Barrister Paul Edeh President, Barrister Paul Edehwho believed in me and gave me this opportunity to move around the Nation to scout for good players, he has been supporting me. So in working for Naija Ratels Football Club, I have the chance to scout for talents across the state to fit in into the National female U17 Team. I will be coming around more often till the League (NWFL) ends so that I can scout for more female players for the U17 National team.
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*If been asked to give your female U17 team list, are you confident of bringing out your team or would it be a struggle?
Well, apart from boasting, in as much that Nigeria is blessed with talents, I can say yes, we are ready. If I say we are not ready, then I am a lazy coach. Grassroot development entails giving your time to the kids, prescribe yourself as a father, give them what they need, that is the tactics of the game, it is the tonic of good football. I am not a lazy man, I am ready to train them and give them what they need. The players See me as not only a Father but a role model to them. In the nearest future when they become superstars, they will say to themselves, ‘this is my father and mentor that trained and built me up’. So I can say that we are ready.
Coach Bankole Olowookere is not only the Coach of the Flamingoes (Nigerian U17 female team) but also the Sporting Director of Naija Ratels Football Club. He is also a former coach of Dreamstar Ladies, who guided them to promotion into the NWFL.
