BY SUNDY AKINTOYE
A call has gone to the coaches who registered their teams for the Alimosho Football Coaches Council Championship to be role models to their teams and players and shun any social vices that can affect the tournament.
Speaking at the seminar/draw of the Alimosho Football Coaches Council Championship held on Thursday in Lagos,one of the resource persons who doubles as FCAN instructor, Akande Smith said coaches should concentrate more on their teams or players instead of complaining about the match officiating.
The much anticipated Alimosho Football Coaches Council Championship begins next week Thursday at the Navy Town field, Alakija, Amuwo-Odofin.
While delivering the speech titled ‘Role Of Football Coaches In Players Development’ explained that coaches are expected to identify and develop young talents instead of concentrating on the winning aspect.
“Football Coaches are not only a role model and father to the players, they should also see themselves as a mentor to their players. It is good for a coach to win a match but not all the time.A coach should concentrate more on technical training, focusing on repetition and precision to develop players fundamental skills.
“Coaches should be able to teach players to cope with the stress and pressure, encouraging them to view failures as opportunities for growth. I think this seminar would help the coaches to give their best during the championship and I wish them all the best,” he said.
In his own comment, Leader of Alimosho Football Coaches Council, Samuel Uchenna Eke expressed gratitude to the guest speaker saying that the topic would change the attitude of some coaches when the championship kicks off.
He however charged the participating coaches to see the championship a pure developmental not a do or die affairs.
He highlighted the benefits the participating teams would get from the championship in terms of live coverage, player marketing and bring some of the players to the limelight.
“This championship was designed in such a way that all the teams would be benefited.We are going to live streaming all the matches and about more than 50 countries in the world would be viewing it.
“Secondly, players would be exposed to good facilities because we have carefully selected some venues that would be good for our players and live coverage,”he said.
Secretary of AFCC, Nwanorom Samuel admonished the coaches to shun vices that can bring the championship into disrepute and educate their players the consequences of soccer violence during and after the tourney.
Another speaker, Ademuyiwa Atobatele who spoke on Emotional Resilience urged the coaches to always comport themselves in professional manner during or after the match.
He admitted that most of the grassroots coaches always react irrationally especially when the match is not in their favour, saying that coaches should be able to exhibit professional conduct instead of instigating their players on and off the pitch to cause trouble during a match.
Meanwhile four matches would be played in week one scheduled for next week Thursday at the Navy Town sports center. Realms Athletic face Kedge Sports in the opening match by 8am, SSFBC tackle Sammy by 10 am, while Zion Breed battle Samjason by 12noon as Attention FC host Seamoriow by 2pm
