Nigerian born coach Marcello Anyanwu is craving for more opportunities for players and in this interview with New National Star Newspaper reporter, ESTHER EGBE, the Dubai-based trainer speaks about his journey through the grassroots to the international sphere. Excerpts…
football and more.
Can you please give our readers the benefits of your background?
I am Marcello Anyanwu and I’m from Ikeduru in Imo State. I’m an International grassroot football advocate and former coach of Arsenal soccer school Dubai training centre. Also a former coach of Universal sports club, Sharjah UAE as well as former coach of Imo State’s male football team at the 2011 National Sports Festival in the Garden City, Port Harcourt. President of King David Footballing Pathways Limited, a football scouting and marketing company. Coach of Gulf United Football Club Dubai, a UAE first division two club. I studied Botany from University of Uyo but has a Diploma coaching and Training from the National Institute for sports Lagos. I’m also a CPD Accredited & UEFA level 1 holder.
Why do you have interest in grassroots football development?
Let’s me start by saying that grassroot football development is considered as a long term plan in football circle. It’s planned to maintain, sustain, promote and standardize football game and it also widens the coaches opportunities in identifying, selecting and grooming talents from grassroot to professional level, which boost the credibility of football globally. Grassroot football is an experimental ground for coaches to exhibit the anatomy they possess as coaches, grassroot football revolves around the coach, he’s the master planner of grassroot football.
What are you doing recently to develop this in Nigeria?
I have been doing a lot in my own little way to develop grassroot football in Nigeria. I have supported a lot of footballer’s on individual Base to get them football kits, pay for coaches to attend coaching course.
I have held lots of talent hunts in Nigeria in Abuja , Lagos , Kwara , Port Harcourt and Ikeduru LGA of Imo State. I have donated football kits to schools and community in my State. I have created pathways for grassroot players to play in professional clubs in Asia and collages in USA .King David Footballing Pathways will participate in 2003/2004 FA challenge Cup, it’s a community grassroot football club I established in my community. We won friendship Cup for schools and Academy in UAE and I was the Head coach Universal sports Sharjah ( UAE) and we were also runners up of the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank for community football Academies and schools in UAE .
How has your coaching experience abroad influenced your work in Nigeria?
Football is same all over the world, yes a lot of positive influence on the lads, have used my position as a coach in diaspora to help Nigeria players, it’s on record that I have assisted some grassroot players from Nigeria and other African countries to my club and change their fortune for good and ready to do more.
I have created opportunities for African players here in UAE. I am a household name here and my house is home for all African players, I’m passionate about the success of African players here.
if there is anything you want to change in Nigeria football, what would that be ?
It will be recalled that I was the former assistant coach at MFM, so I know a lot that is happening in Nigerian Football as at today. I am very versatile with what is happening. Remember that I am the Nigerian National League Ambassador, so I am fully aware of whatever is happening in Nigerian Football.
I am going to build a formidable structure for football development. What that means is that I am going to build a strong pillar of football administration that will promote, develop and offer accessible base for all within the framework of sound and ethical practice. This is what is obtainable in overseas where I am coming from. I am a grassroot advocate. What I am going to do is to establish a formidable structure towards a sustainable and successful football .Like I always say, grassroots football is very important. The Women League is not functioning in Nigeria for a very long time. Like you asked me how versatile I am in Nigeria football in the previous interview, honestly, I have a lot to offer to Nigeria football.
What I am going to do if I have the opportunity as the NFF President in future ,concerning Women League is to make sure I get investors to invest in the League to get the best. It is very important to get investors. This is what I am here to do to get the female football going. We don’t need to invite or bother ourselves for those players playing abroad, we can use the ones playing at home to execute all our matches. I am going to partner with Government to build infrastructures. When we have the infrastructures and a running league, everything will be in place.
How can you rate our Nigeria league?
The quality of players is amazing ,but the standard is low and the structure of the league is not in order. The health insurance of coaching staff and players are not feasible and sustainable. Insecurity is rampant lately FC rocket one and Sunshine starts were attacked by armed bandits on their way to honour league matches. It’s worrisome, the players and coaching staff life’s are in danger.
The league management should compel club owners to air lift all the team every weekend and midweek for a game.
Imagine Heartland players traveling from Owerri to Gombe to play Gombe United by road; they will spend two days on the road, and people expect them to perform, it’s not possible. They will surely experience fatigue. Likewise Kano Pillars traveling by road to Uyo to play Akwa United, the dangers on the road and fatigue is definitely suicidal to our football. Pitches are not television friendly and fans don’t find it attractive. It’s unfortunate, though I have to commend the league management for the way the officiating is going this season. We will get it right in due course.
