Olakeji Isaac, a former player turned coach, shared insights into his football journey and thoughts on sports development in Nigeria in an exclusive interview with Sports247.
When asked about his playing career, Isaac revealed, “Locally, I played for Bendel Insurance of Benin. I played for a bigger institution.” He transitioned into coaching and is currently with Arise Soccer Academy. “One academy in Ibadan,” he mentioned, referring to his time at ABK Football Academy before moving to Arise Soccer Academy.
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Reflecting on his experiences, Isaac emphasized the importance of grassroots development in football. “For over 20 years, Nigeria has not been able to produce young talent from each group tournament to the Super League,” he noted.
Isaac highlighted the success of countries like Spain, attributing their dominance to robust youth development programs. “The only way we can do it, to get it right, is to go back to the grassroots.”
Isaac expressed mixed feelings about the proliferation of football academies in Nigeria. “Nowadays, people see football as a business rather than a way of developing players,” he observed.
He stressed the need for quality over quantity, focusing on the development and proper education of young players rather than immediate financial gain. “It’s about what they are impacting on those kids. That is what matters,” he said.
Discussing the recent establishment of the National Sports Commission and the appointment of Bukola Olopade as its Director-General, Isaac was cautiously optimistic. “Whenever Nigeria puts on a team like that, we always have results,” he acknowledged.
However, he also pointed out a recurring issue: the appointment of unqualified individuals to key positions. “We just have to put the right people in the right positions,” he insisted, advocating for specialists in various sports to lead their respective departments.
Isaac concluded by emphasizing the diversity of sports in Nigeria, noting that attention should be given to disciplines beyond football. “We have basketball, volleyball, handball, and a series of sports. So we just have to put the right people in the right position. Then we’ll get it right.”
The insights from Olakeji Isaac points out the need for strategic investments in grassroots development and the importance of expertise in sports administration to enhance Nigeria’s sports landscape.
