Arsenal FC of London and Abuja-based FWC Champions FC share a story of perseverance and ambition. Both clubs, striving for success, have embraced bold leadership to reignite their fortunes. Arsenal, without an EPL title in two decades, appointed Mikel Arteta as manager in 2019, while FWC FC, titleless for nearly seven years, brought in Bunmi Haruna, a former Nigeria U-17 assistant coach, in 2024.

Haruna’s debut year has been transformational. Under his guidance, FWC FC completed an unbeaten league season and claimed the FCT Pre-season Tournament—its first trophy in five years. Although they narrowly missed promotion, losing on penalties in the playoff, the team’s dynamic style has won fans, especially in Jos.

Looking ahead, Haruna is targeting promotion to the Nigeria National League (NNL) and a state FA Cup victory by 2025. Committed to developing African talent, he envisions players from FWC FC joining elite European clubs like Barcelona and Chelsea by 2025.

“Our goals are clear: promotion and the state FA Cup. I’m also dedicated to helping African talents achieve their dreams through a robust scouting network,” Haruna stated. He highlighted his expertise in video analysis and his vision to apply these skills to African teams and Nigeria’s national squad.

Haruna’s admiration for Arteta’s tactical innovation, particularly in set pieces, has shaped his approach. Over half of FWC FC’s goals in the NLO 1 Super 8 came from meticulously planned set pieces—a skill Haruna honed alongside Nigeria’s top youth coaches.

“Set pieces are crucial in modern football. I study Arsenal not to imitate but to understand their strategies. Working with Nigeria’s youth coaches taught me the transformative power of set pieces, even when the team isn’t at its best,” Haruna concluded.

Both Arteta and Haruna exemplify how resilience and tactical brilliance can inspire clubs to aim for greatness, no matter the challenges.