Dino Sporting Club president advocates financial independence to grow Nigeria football

 

Samuel Omamofe Columbus, President of Dino Sporting Club, shared his insights on Nigerian football and his experiences as a club owner in a recent interview. 

He emphasized the need for financial independence and a renewed focus on grassroots development for the growth of the sport in Nigeria.

Columbus, a former footballer whose career was cut short by injury, established Dino Sporting Club out of passion. He described the challenges of running a football club in Nigeria, including initial mistakes in player selection, which he later corrected by focusing on younger players in the U15 range. 

Despite the challenges, the club has seen some success, with several players progressing to European clubs, generating both joy and revenue.

Columbus's background includes education in Lagos State, brief studies at Lagos State University, and professional courses, including football management. 

He was also a FIFA agent but relinquished his role due to conflicts of interest with club ownership.

He believes that the decline of Nigerian teams on continental and global stages stems from a deviation from established plans and structures, particularly at the grassroots level. 

Columbus strongly advocates for reinvesting in grassroots programs like the Principals Cup and local tournaments, stating that "grassroots football is the solution to Nigerian football challenges."

Explaining the unique name of his club, Columbus revealed that his friends used to call him "Dino Baggio" during his playing days. He expressed gratitude to his wife for her unwavering support, including financial assistance during challenging times.

Regarding Nigeria's potential failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Columbus emphasized the importance of passion and honor in representing the nation. 

He recalled the successful era under Clemens Westerhof, highlighting his vision, support from the NFF and government, and the smooth transitions to subsequent coaches. 

He advocated for hiring a coach with a 4-5 year development plan, emphasizing that "football is like a marathon. The development takes time."

Columbus also addressed the issue of recycling older players in Nigerian clubs. He praised Hon. Kunle Soname's contributions and called for greater private investment in the NPFL, recognizing football as a "multi-billion dollar business."

When asked about his personal preferences, Columbus mentioned Jos and Akwa Ibom in Nigeria, as well as Dubai and Belgium, as his favorite holiday spots. He expressed optimism about the future of Dino Sporting Club. If stranded in the desert, he would take his Bible, a football, and water. His favorite local teams are Remo Stars and Enugu Rangers, while he enjoys watching Manchester City and Arsenal play beautiful football, despite being a Manchester United fan.

Finally, Columbus expressed his approval of the new Lagos FA board led by Hajji Gafar Liameed, describing him as a visionary and a "thoroughbred football technocrat" who has been instrumental to his team's success. He believes Liameed is "the best thing to have happened to football in Lagos State."

The key takeaway from the interview is Columbus's strong belief that financial independence and a renewed focus on grassroots development are crucial for the resurgence of Nigerian football. He advocates for greater private investment in the league and a long-term vision for national team development.

Sporting Sun 

Top football scouts to harness talents at 19th Lagos Supremacy Cup

 

Ten international scouts have received visas to attend the 19th edition of the Lagos Supremacy Cup.

Cem Sagar, the coordinator for expatriates and head of Diamond Sports Management, will be accompanied by nine additional scouts to Lagos for this esteemed tournament.

Among those confirmed for the event are Dan Smejkal, Tomas Syrovatka, Pape Cissokho, Toni Bilandzic, Dennys Dilettosso, Nenad Sarcevic, Zdenek Mikyska, Jan Prosek, and Florin Biba.

The tournament is set to take place from November 27th to 30th at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.

Organizers have indicated that the scouting tournament will feature some of the top grassroots teams.

Cem emphasized that the purpose of the program is to identify talent at the grassroots level and provide them with opportunities to play internationally.

He stated, "Our goal is to discover talent and promote them to European markets."

"This is why nine additional scouts have been confirmed for the event."

Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) Chairman, Hajji Olawale Liameed Gafar, who is the Chief Convener of the highly anticipated tournament, shared that each match will consist of two halves lasting 30 minutes each. Notably, there will be no offside calls during the games, which is expected to minimize unnecessary stoppages and increase both playtime and scoring opportunities.

In discussing the significance of the tournament for the advancement of football in Nigeria, he emphasized that only 69 youth players can represent the national U15, U17, and U20 teams in any given generation.

"Our primary goal is to create more opportunities for youth footballers in Nigeria. We have only three youth national teams: U-15, U-17, and U-20. Each of these teams can only feature 23 players per tournament per generation. What happens to the remaining one million active semi-professional players?"

"The solution lies in the Lagos Supremacy Cup. While the 10 teams participating in this tournament do not encompass the entirety of Nigeria's youth football landscape, they have been carefully selected based on their track records in identifying and nurturing top talent," he added.

The tournament will include defending champions Dino FC, Ikorodu City FC, Broad City FC, and Real Saphire FC, along with Beyond Limits FC, Seamoriow FC, 36 Lion, Bethel FC, MS Success FC, and Charlesann FC.

LSFA sets certificate benchmark for football coaches, sign pact with NIS

 

The Lagos State Football Association has added to his success stories by ensuring the implementation of the MOU signed with the Nigeria Institute of Sports over the certification of coaches that does not have the prerequisites and necessary qualifications to obtain a licence from the State FA.

Coaches in Lagos State were invited to the Football House at Ogunlana Drive Surulere Lagos to parley over this remarkable feat which is aimed not just to be certified or licensed coaches but to ensure international best practices.

The NIS Representatives led by the Registrar shed more light on the MOU with LSFA and encouraged all the coaches to key into this laudable initiative.

The FA Chairman, Liameed Gafar acknowledged the important roles played by the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu and Lagos State Sports Commission in creating enabling environment for the continuous development of football through the numerous rehabilitation and reconstruction of various Stadia in the State. He also charged the coaches the importance of this partnership with NIS. 

The Lagos State Football Association and NIS has agreed that the sum of 25,000 will be paid by coaches who do not have any certificate from NIS to undergo the training and 5,000 to get the Coaching License. The training will be done in batches and he promised that between now and the next two years, over 2000 coaches would have been trained, certified and licensed to be able to operate in Lagos State.

Additionally, that efforts will be made to collaborate with other Southwest States over the capacity building and having uniform licensing in order to operate in the region.

LSFA, Sports Commission synergize to host memorable President Federation Cup final

 

The board members of Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) led by its Chairman Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed held a meeting with the Director-General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Hon. Lekan Fatodu, at his Teslim Balogun Stadium office on Tuesday.

At the meeting which was ostensibly aimed to forge a stronger synergy and working collaboration between State FA and Sports Commission, who are the supervisors of sports in the state, also discussed plans to make the finals of this year's President Federation Cup finals billed to be hosted by the Centre Of Excellence.

In his opening remarks, Lagos FA boss Hajji Gafar expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Sports Commission Director-General, to improve sports in the state. Adding that the board is desirous of a beneficial collaboration with the sports commission, for the benefits and development of football in the State.

Hon. Fatodu in his response, remarked he is impressed with the positive energy and commitment of the LSFA board towards the development of football in the State. 

He assured the State FA of the continued support and collaboration of the Sports Commission towards a better football ecosystem in the state.

Fatodu also stated that the Sports Commission would work in synergy with the State FA to deliver a spectacular and grand President Federation Cup finals which is both glamorous and excellent in the mantra of Lagos State.

On Saturday, at the magnificent Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, Abia Warriors of Abia and El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, will battle in the men's final match, while Naija Ratels and Rivers Angels would trade tackles for honours in the final of the women's category.

Ex International Cup kics off on Saturday in Lagos

 

The eargerly-awaited Ex-Internationals Cup organised by Lagos State Football Association kicks off Saturday, with three matches to be played on Matchday One, in two different centres.

In the opening match, FC Ugbade would play host to FC Nieketein at the Nitel ground, Oshodi, at 7am.

Other Matchday One games would hold at Legacy pitch Surulere, as FC Omoruyi and FC Obafemi trade tackles at 10am, while FC Elaho and FC Udeze do battle on the same pitch at 12 noon.

According to the organisers, the tournament which would see 32 Lagos based ex-Nigeria internationals adopting various teams purposedly for the tournament, would be played on a home and away knockout basis across different playgrounds including Legacy Pitch, Nitel Ground, Maracana Stadium, Victor Agali Stadium, Jalisco Stadium, amongst other Stadia.

Speaking on the historic tournament, Chairman of the organising committee, Engr. Waidi Akanni, said the tournament is expected to have these retired national teams players on the touchlines, ditching out tactical instructions to their various adopted teams, as coach-mentor.

"This is historic and unprecedented, as football fans would have the opportunity to see their once favourite players, passing on instructions to the younger players during the tournament," he remarked excitedly.

"This is a well-planned and unique tournament. Already, the 32 teams have been fully kitted and of course by Owu Sportswear, with adequate logistics arrangement to make it hitch-free," Akanni, a former Chairman of LSFA disclosed.

While assuring soccer fans, players and officials of a top quality organisation, he also enthused that the tournament is expected to set an enviable benchmark for grassroots football development.

Lagos FA Boss, nine other FA Chairmen visit recuperating Tijani Babangida

 

Chairman of Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), Hajji Gafar Olawale Liameed, Friday morning, joined the delegation of nine other States FA Chairmen including Kwara, Jigawa, Yobe, Benue, amongst others, in paying a condolence visit to the grieving and recuperating PFAN President Tijani Babangida, MON.

It could be recalled that the former Super Eagles and Ajax Amsterdam star was involved in a ghastly accident on the Kaduna-Zaria road, which claimed the lives of his younger brother Ibrahim and his one- year old son.

The States FA bosses while condoling with Babangida, who also sustained a serious leg injury, prayed that God grant him and his family, the strength and fortitude to bear the losses.

On his part, Hajji Gafar, noted that football as the world's most unifying factor, should continued to be used to further promote peace, unity and progress, amongst the people.