My appointment as Eaglets assistant coach will inspire other young coaches in Nigeria
Sports journalist and newly appointed Golden Eaglets 2nd assistant coach, Bunmi Blair of Cool/Wazobia/Nigeria Info FM, Abuja has said his appointment will inspire other young coaches in the country. In this interview with SHOT!, Blair who is a holder of CAF B coaching licence and one of the youngest coaches in the country said he decided to make a career in coaching to help in developing football talents that abound in Nigeria.
How happy are you with your appointment as the national U-17 team 2nd assistant coach?
Very happy, but with a sense of responsibility.
What were you doing when you received the news of your appointment?
I was in church (Good Tidings International, Jabi Abuja).
Who was the first person you called to share your joy with?
My wife, she was by my side in church and she was very excited.
When and how did you become a football coach?
I started serious coaching works in 2010. But before then I had handled primary school teams while I worked as a part-time teacher after secondary school, between year 2000 and 2003.
You are already one of the highly rated sports journalists in Nigeria. What made you to take to football coaching?
The experience I had as the media officer of the National U-13/U-15 teams in 2010 really shaped my decision to become a professional football coach. I realized that there are abundant football talents in Nigeria that were wasting away. Especially for the young players between the ages of 5 to 15 years, most of them lack the basic techniques needed in football. I noticed that most of the players don’t have qualified coaches taking them and by the time they are 20 years and above, it becomes more difficult for them to learn the basic football skills successfully. So, I saw the need for more people to get involved in football coaching and better these player’s chances of becoming better footballers.
How do you combine your job as a practicing journalist with football coaching?
It is very demanding, but I create time for everything. I have to go do my radio shows in the mornings (7am-9.30am) on three radio stations (Cool/Wazobia/Nigeria Info FM, Abuja), before I head to training with FC Abuja.
After training, I go into town to cover sports events or conduct prearranged interviews, then back in the office for evening shows. Sometimes, I don’t get more than three hours sleep a day, because when I get back home, I have to prepare for the next day shows as well as prepare for training before I go to bed. So most times I sleep by 1am or 2am and by 5am or 5.30am I’m up.
But one thing that keeps me going is I love what I do. So, I’m always looking forward to the next day.
When you decided to go into coaching did you believe by this time you will be a national team coach?
I didn’t set a time limit, but I was doing everything that will qualify me for a national team job. So, when the NFF made the national team jobs open for the public to apply, I saw the chance I have been waiting for.
Which coach is your role model and why?
I have a lot of them. Every good coach is my role model, because I try to learn from them. But there are people who encourage me every day. Coach Siji Lagunju and Rafiu Yusuf played a huge role in me deciding to become a coach. I have also had the privilege to understudy some very good coaches in Nigeria, Haruna Ilerika, Emmanuel Amunike, Edwin Okon, Manu Garba and many more. These people take it as a duty to encourage and give me coaching tips. I also have coaches whose philosophy I study. I love Arsene Wenger’s philosophy of working with young players and I seriously believe in it. I also admire Pep Guardiola because he keeps changing or adapting his formations. I study the training regimen of Jorge Sampaoli and l try to imbibe the winning mentality of Jose Mourinho. I download match analyses of top European matches, watch, listen and read pre-match and post match analysis of top games. Because each of these methods offer different explanations or angles to what happens in a match. So what that means is I try to learn from everybody. I have also been inspired by Coach Kadiri Ikhana and Imama Amapakabo.
With this appointment are you expecting a job with any of the Nigerian Professional football league clubs?
That is my aim. But I will seriously like to work with a team based in the FCT. No FCT based team is in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL right now. So, I would like to bring back premier league football to the FCT by taking one of the teams back there.
Your head coach Abdul Maikaba said he didn’t apply for the Golden Eaglets job. He said he actually applied to coach the U20 team. Does the same thing apply to you?
No it doesn’t. I applied to be the assistant coach of the National U-17 team.
Have you spoken to the other coaches since your appointment was made public by the NFF? If yes, what did you discuss with them?
I have spoken with them, but will like to keep the discussions private. However, I can say it was mutual and fruitful.
How would you describe your relationship with the other members of the coaching crew?
Coach Abdul Maikaba is like a father to me, while Coach Abubakar Bala has always been a friend. We were all at the NPFL/Star/Arsenal FC coaching clinic earlier this year in Abuja and the experience was refreshing.
Considering your age, would you have accepted to be the head coach of the team, if appointed by the NFF?
Yes I would. I don’t think age is a limitation in coaching. Infact, I believe the decision of the NFF to give young coaches a chance will encourage more young people to take to coaching.
It is an open secret that you are a proud holder of CAF B coaching licence but do you have any coaching experience?
In the last three years, I have been working with FC Abuja as one of the assistant coaches. I have also grabbed various opportunities to understudy several national team coaches while they are in camp, including, Emmanuel Amunike, Siji Lagunju, Manu Garba, Haruna Ilerika, Edwin Okon, Nasidi Danladi, Christopher Danjuma, Bala Nikyu and many more. I will also love to understudy Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr if I get the chance.
You may be making history as the youngest Nigerian coach to handle a national team. In what ways do you think your achievement will inspire other young coaches?
Since the announcement was made on thenff.com, I have received at least a hundred calls from young people across the country, not just coaches, saying the decision of the NFF has inspired them. So, I’m aware that I represent the next generation and I can’t afford to let them down.
Is this going to be your first time in a national team set up?
No, before now I served as the media officer of the national U-13/U-15 team. During this period I was privileged to help project the careers of players like Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Dennis Bonaventure, Jacob Njoku, Chigozie Obasi, Akpan Udoh, Chidera Eze among others.
Do you believe the present coaching crew will be able to unearth future stars just the way its predecessors did?
I strongly believe so. Also, the NFF now has an U-13/U-15 football development programme from where players could be graduated. The NPFL U-15 championship is also an advantage, not forgetting the various secondary school competitions like Shell Cup, Coca-Cola Championship, Principals Cup, Etisalat U-17 Schools Cup, the Mock Nations Cup and many more.
Once again congratulations Bunmi Blair on your appointment.
Thank you sir.
