Chairman of Nigeria National League ( NNL), George Aluo has attributed the fine run of second tier teams in the ongoing President Federation Cup to the pre- season seminar organised for coaches before the kick off of the league.
It would be recalled that  prior to the commencement of the 2023/24 League, the NNL in conjunction with 
National Institute For Sports ( NIS) organised a three day seminar for coaches of the league where experienced resource persons led by the Technical Director of the NFF, Austin Eguavoen lectured the coaches on modern day football techniques.
This Aluo believes robbed off positively on the teams in the Federation Cup which saw five NNL clubs namely;  Sokoto United, Inter Lagos, EFCC, Kebbi United and El-Kanemi Warriors secure qualification to the quarter-final of the most glamorous competition in the country.
More remarkable was the shocking result by Sokoto United who sent out  two time CAF Champions League winners, Enyimba of Aba from the competition.
Also  El-Kanemi Warriors another NNL team stopped Shooting Stars of Ibadan while Wikki Tourists who showed Bendel Insurance  the exist door were eased out by fellow NNL side, EFCC.
It also took a penalty shootout for Inter Lagos to be separated from Ikorodu City by  4-5 scoreline after their game  ended 1-1 in regulation time.
Speaking on these performances, Aluo said their good run cannot be separated from what the coaches  learnt at the seminar noting that it helped in improving their skills and knowledge of the game.
According to him, such seminars are necessary for all sections of the country's league as it will go a long way in not only preparing coaches and football managers for the task ahead but will also improve their skills and knowledge of the technical aspect of the game.
"I want to say that am very excited with what NNL teams are doing at the ongoing President Federation Cup. For five of our teams to be in the quarter-finals and beating some of the best teams in the NPFL is not an easy achievement and I must attribute their success story to the seminar we organised in Ikenne to prepare the coaches ahead of the league.
"It's equally important that I recommend that all the country's league should take a queue from this and organise refresher courses for the coaches as is done in other climes as that will go a long way in improving our football.
Aluo was full of praise to the proprietor of Remo Stars, Kunle Soname who apart from making  his world class facilities available for the seminar, also bankrolled it and Coach Austin Eguavoen and other resource persons at the seminar for the great job they did.