Exclusive News
BY SAB OSUJI
Adebayo Gbadebo, a Nigerian Coach in Thailand has asked Nigerian football authorities a fundamental question as to what West African neighbours, Senegal, are doing specially and better that they have become the destination of African football trophies in recent times, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.
Gbadebo, a former Stationery Stores of Lagos defender, spoke to Exclusivenews.com.ng from his base in Bangkok, Thailand.
Adebayo is the founder and manager of Kanjanapat FC, a third tier Thai League side, after spending 10 years with Suphanburi FC, a team he took to the Thai Premier League from the grassroot.
In the past couple of years, Senegal has won all major African football silverware, including the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, the African Beach Soccer Championship which they have won for the 4th consecutive time, the Championship for African Natiins, CHAN, U20 AFCON and most recently, U17 AFCON concluded in Algeria.
Reckoning that Senegal does not boast of more or better talents than Nigeria, Adebayo reasons that organisation, quality and capacity of the Coach as well as his honesty and sincerity are key factors in pushing a team to the top.
“What’s Senegal doing better than Nigeria?”, he asked rhetorically.
“Do they have better players than us? If you ask me, I would say the difference is in the quality of our coaching personnel, their capacity and ability to fashion out and execute a detailed playing philosophy and imbibe same to the team.
“Such That what each department, say, the midfielders do when defending and attacking. How do they link up the wingers and attackers while in transition.
“These are very important. Besides, the Federation (NFF in this case), how do they select their coaches?
“What level of organisation and support do they give to the coaches? There should be a synergy between the Federation and the coaches for results to come.
“I think this is where Senegal is getting it right”.
Adebayo pointed out bitterly that he was saddened by the U17 Golden Eaglets performance in the concluded CAF U17 Nations Cup in Algeria.
“I couldn’t believe it was Nigerian team playing. The players were individualistic on the pitch. And I asked, where is the usual Nigerian fluid game”?.
Exclusivenews.com.ng understands that Adebayo has been certificated by Asia football authorities with a pro coaching license.
“With this, I can Coach at any level. Pro License is the highest coaching certificate and I’m the only African here in that is having it”, he explained while revealing his willingness to work in Nigeria ‘if the opportunity comes’.
“Working for your country comes with joy and I don’t think I would be an exception”, he responded.
“But that is, ‘if the opportunity come’. If your country appreciates what you’re doing and says, okay, come and do it here.
“I’m a Nigerian, and cannot shy away from working in my country and for my country if the opportunity comes”.
