BY SAB OSUJI

Yemi Olarewaju, Enyimba of Aba stop-gap head coach, has sensationally declared himself as a 'serial winner' after leading the People's Elephant to a third place finish in the concluded 2023/2024 NPFL which guarantees the three time African Champions a place in the 2024/2025 CAF second-tier interclub competition, CAF Confederation Cup, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

32-year-old Olarewaju was named Enyimba Head Coach following Finidi George's now short-lived appointment as Super Eagles technical supremo.

After a 2-0 home win against Plateau Utd in Aba on the final Match Day of the 2023/2024 NPFL seaon, Enyimba scooped the Confederation Cup ticket at the expense of Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC, Ibadan and Plateau United, a feat that secures a fifth time Confederation Cup campaign for the Nigerian domestic top flight nine-time winners.

During a post match interview, Olarewaju was asked if he was satisfied with his team's third best finish.

And his response was one of revelation, ambition and drive for excellence.

"I won't say that I'm satisfied", responds Olarewaju sharply.

"I'm a serial winner", he added before going ahead to roll out his track record of successes in his young coaching career that perhaps justifies his claim.

"If you look at my records everywhere I've worked, you'll understand that I'm a serial winner. I won the first trophy for Vandrezzar FC. At,the National Team level, I won the WAFU U17 with the U17 Golden Eaglets. In my first season with Enyimba, we won the NPFL trophy.

"I'm a serial winner. I love to win. I don't settle second. But sometimes, when it doesn't happen, you've to move on", the young tactician, arguably the youngest head coach in the NPFL said.

With the conclusion of the 2023/2024 season, the transfer window has been flung open. Much as clubs jostle for players to bolster their squads ahead of the coming 2024/2025 season, coaches are also not left out as clubs also seek to strengthen their technical departments.

With Enyimba on yet another continental voyage for a fifth Confederation Cup hunt, Olarewaju says he is yet to decide his Enyimba future despite the club always coming first in everything he does as well as verbal outburst by Chairman of the club, Nwankwo Kanu, to the effect that he (Kanu), 'doesn't want him (Olarewaju) to leave this place'.

"Responding to a question on his future at the club and if there was any offer yet on the cards for him, he responded in the affirmative, but reckons that Enyimba comes first in everything he does.

"I've a lot of offers, I won't tell you lies. But for me, Enyimba comes first in everything I do. Before I came here, I was a fan of the club and that's why for the past two years that I've been here, I've given everything for the club.

"So, for me, I think the management has trust in me and I've to give it to Nwankwo Kanu because often times, a lot of Nigerian teams don't have trust in young coaches. So, for him to have trusted me, they know that I've the ability. I'm not trying to brag. The level I coach, only a few coaches can coach like that in the NPFL level, that's the truth".

Olarewaju would go on to reveal that he's home sick at  the moment, stressing that after a hectic season, he needs time out to reunite with his family before making a decision on his next career bus stop.

"The only thing I've in my head now is to go home and spend time with my family. Then, after that, I'll look at whatever offers that come in, including Enyimba".

Olarewaju admitted there has been a verbal offer from his current employers, Enyimba.

"Yes, something like that, because the Chairman (Nwankwo Kanu), told me 'Yemi, I don't want you to leave this place'. But like I said, the only thing I've in my head right now is to go home and spend sometime with my family.

"You know it has been a hectic season. Since August last year, I've been off and on without my family. So, I've to go home now and spend few weeks with them. After then I can decide when or where for next season".