Coach Fatai Osho Disappointed Me!

Football is a game of discipline and only disciplined players and coaches go far through that career path. Emotions are part of the game but professionalism teaches cool, calm composure in the midst of heightened tension.

Sadly, discipline and professionalism are the two major ingredients lacking in Nigerian football, from the fans, players, coaches and officials. In the midst of this anomaly, there are few players, coaches and officials you will expect to know better, act better and respect what is left of LMC’s NPFL. Coach Fatai Osho would have made my list of one of those few coaches in NPFL I will expect to know better and act better, but that would have definitely been before July 11, 2021, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

The Coach of one of the biggest football clubs in the country, Enyimba International, a continental coach, acted unprofessionally and showed all attributes of indiscipline when he dissented during the match day 32 against Akwa United and the centre referee, Nura Abdullahi had the instruction of the match commissioner, Umar Suleiman Isa to send him to the stands in the 72nd minute of play.

In saner climes, the Coach does not waste time obeying the referees order, but it took the stewards seven minutes to appeal to Osho to leave as directed by the centre referee and even after leaving, he still exhibited some drama at the stands, distracting the game.

Coach Osho, a gentleman at first sight acted below my expectation and expectation of others. Enyimba is a big club, the most successful team from Nigeria in Africa and everything about the club matters including the behaviour of its head coach.

LMC has a lot more to battle in the NPFL, if they think only the fans and corrupt officials are the problem of the league, then Coach Fatai Osho gave them something else to consider.