The North Central Zone of NLO Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching Clinic came to an end in Lafia, Nasarawa State with participants pledging a new approach to football development.

Coach Rabo Bello, one of the participants who received his certificate at the closing ceremony of the 5-Day clinic on Friday at the Lafia City Hall commended the organizers for the initiative which he said has widening their horizon about the dug-out dealings and will bear a positive impact on their players.

Rabo who also thanked the Nasarawa State Government for providing the enabling environment, expressed his delight at the privilege and opportunity to have learnt from all the resource persons who he said have been able to bequeath them with insightful contents. 

In a remark, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Othman Bala expressed belief that the programme would change the narrative of football development and lauded the leadership of Nationwide League One (NLO) for finding the state worthy of hosting the programme.

Bala congratulated all the 52 participants and charged them to transfer the knowledge acquired to their players believing that the technical delivery has afforded them a new knowledge about the game.

He further assured that the State Government under the leadership of Engr. Abdullahi Sule would continue to do it’s best in a bid for the state to take it’s righteous position in the scheme of sports development in the country.

“A seed has been sown today and I want to urge you (coaches) to please tender that seeds to blossom so that it will yield multiple fruits which in the next few years will bear impact on the society” the Commissioner said.

The Chairman Nationwide League One (NLO) Alhaji Mohammed Alkali who expressed his satisfaction about the programme which he said has been able to serve the yearnings of coaches in acquiring more knowledge through a simple mechanism.

Alkali who is also the chairman Nasarawa State Football Association and a Board Member of NFF noted that NLO partnership with the Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching Clinic reflects the philosophy of the league in providing equal opportunities for teams and also cause a new wave of development in terms of putting the league on a sustainable path.

In their separate remarks, the CEO of Berackiah International, Mr Wonders Nwigwe and Coach Mathew Olorunleke appreciated the government of Nasarawa State for their overwhelming support towards the success of the clinic.

They also thanked the government for the warm reception and hospitality the team had enjoyed since they entered the State.

The former Technical Director of NFF, Coach Bitrus Bewarang urged the coaches to materialise all they have learnt in the clinic to practice, charging them to live up to expectations the clinic was meant to fulfil.

The train of the clinic has now covered the South-West, South-South, South-East and North-Central with Nigerian coaches benefiting from an in depth delivery of coaching education aimed at enhancing their capacity and competence.

Next on the clinic schedule is the North Western part of the country with Kano State as the programme centre.

The clinic will run from Monday 15th – 19th Friday at the Pyramid City.

Nasarawa State Government has commended the organizers of Berackiah/Abigol Football Coaching Clinic for the initiative which it said will develop the capacity and competence of football managers.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the clinic which held at the Lafia City Hall, Honourable Othman Bala, the commissioner for Youth and Sports in Nasarawa state assured the organizers the support of the state government towards the success of 5-day clinic.

He noted that the clinic came at a better time when the state is now finding its bearing in sports development upon which it has designed policies aimed at changing the narratives for good with priority on capacity and competence.

“I believe with the depth of technical input of this programme, it will bring about career progression and add value to the coaches and the players, Othman said.

He further added that, “We have been left behind but we’re lucky that we haven’t lost focus. We have now find our bearing and we are going to partner with you as a state sovernment.”

In his remarks, the Executive Board Member of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF who also double as Chairman of Nationwide League One (NLO) Alhaji Muhammed Alkali revealed that the clinic with its partnership along with the board is aimed at impacting modern knowledge on the coaches.

Alkali who’s also as the Chairman Nasarawa State Football Association said the NLO partnership with the clinic is a manifestation of his management policy trust in a bid to rebrand and repackage the league as a professional campaign.

“NFF has approved this clinic as part of criteria for NLO clubs and you must have the certificate to be able to seat on the bench of NLO matches, Alkali said.

Bitrus Bewarang, the former Technical Director of NFF also commended the organizers of the clinic saying that it will go along way to help football development at the grassroots.

The CEO Abigol Football Management, Mathew Olorunleke thanked the state government for the hospitality and support it has accorded the Berackiah/Abigol team.

Other guests at the event include Hon. Halidu Akwashiki, Vice Chairman, Nassarawa State Football Association, Mallam Babarabi, the FA secretary and other board Members of the State Football Association.

Also at the opening ceremony are the former Super Eagles and a retired FIFA/CAF instructor, High Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Roberto Bassi, Gian Marco, Mr. Wonders Nwigwe the CEO Berackiah International, Managing Director of Abigol Football Management Mr. Abraham Olorunleke and host of others.

The clinic for the North Central Zone will end on Friday 12th, February.