From Austin Ajayi, Yola.
Ladan Bosso, a former coach of the Nigerian U-20 men national football team has seal two years deal to handle Nigeria Professional Football League side, Adamawa.
Coach Bosso, who is regarded as a nomadic coach is coming to the Yola based club at a time the club is enmeshed in myriads of problems.
The former U20 chief tactician on arrival said he wants to help the team get to prominence in the elite league.
Bosso, who agree on personal terms with the club for an undisclosed amount will lead the club as the Technical Director, while another former U20 Female National team head coach Mr. Justin Madugu is the Technical Adviser of the club.
Speaking to journalist on his arrival, coach Bosso said “I’m happy to be here. After serious discussions between me and the club’s chairman precisely, I deemed it necessary to come and see what is on ground. After seeing what is on ground I have the confidence that I can turn things around if everyone keeps to the deal.
“I am here to work,” he said.
Bosso pride himself as a grassroots expert and assured that he will use that experience to cause a turnaround in the team.
“I’m a coach that always go for the grassroots and that is the kind of thing that Adamawa United is looking for,” he said.
When asked why the choice of Adamawa United football club as head coach, Bosso said “If I’ve not made up my mind I wouldn’t come. I’m here to help the club.
“We have discussed the issue of facilities with the chairman and I’ve given him some options. We are part of the system; we know how to handle it”
“I just need to watch some of the training facilities and know how to communicate the office. I think with my relationship with the office I think we should be able to get something for the state.
The club chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Zira, who is one of the longest club chairmen in the country in an interview with Authority Newspaper in Yola said the choice of Isa Ladan Bosso was a well thought one.
“He is among the top ten coaches this country has produced. He understands the Nigeria football terrain so well that he prides himself a grassroots coach.
“He has done it in many clubs and I believe he can help us break the chain of failure in the club,” the chairman said.
But with the serious challenge of poor facilities in Adamawa which has become the only state in the country without a standard stadium, what magic can anyone do?
Emmanuel Zira said “we are hoping that the state government will give us the necessary support to get the Fufore stadium which NFF has given temporary approval, if things are put in place.
“The stadium in Fufore town is a Local Government facility and with the cooperation of the Local Government and the State government, I believe we can get the stadium ready before the league commences.”
Apart from the poor facilities, Adamawa United Football Club remains the only club in Nigeria without a secretariat and it has to go through the bureaucracy of government before things get done.
The question now is: Can Emmanuel Zira and Coach Isa Ladan Bosso change the tide?
