GreenLock Football Academy's structure designed for success, career growth

Omowunmi Blessing Awe is an elegant and intelligent leader who serves as the Head of Operations at Green Lock FC/Academy. She is dedicated to making a significant impact in a male-dominated industry.

Awe has demonstrated a strong ability to build and lead teams, enhancing the performance of both the football club and the academy.

Green Lock FA conducts its training sessions at the Navy Town Sports Centre, which boasts excellent facilities that support both training and leisure activities. The accommodation provided ensures a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment for players.

The launch of the Green Lock Football Academy is scheduled for August 31st in Lagos. Awe explains that the academy’s structure is designed to foster the success and career growth of its football talents.

"Green Lock Football Academy distinguishes itself in Nigeria through its comprehensive approach to player development," she states, "emphasizing technical skills, tactical understanding, physical conditioning, mental preparation, and educational support."

On the holistic approach, GreenLock Football Academy is offering to player development, Awe explains in detail. 

"Green Lock FA provides a structured program that nurtures young talents while ensuring they excel both on and off the field. This includes personalized coaching, fitness training, mental toughness programs, soccer picnics, excursions, fun games, nutritious meals, and academic support, all aimed at promoting well-rounded development, including discipline."

In addition to technical skills, tactical understanding, physical conditioning, mental preparation, and educational support, Green Lock Football Academy also offers strategies for maximizing results through talent identification and development. 

"We continuously scout and nurture young talents, providing them with top-notch training facilities and coaching," Awe notes.

Player welfare and academic support are integral parts of Green Lock Football Academy. 

"We ensure the physical and mental well-being of players through quality medical support, nutrition planning, and mental health resources. 

We also offer educational programs that complement football training, ensuring players have options beyond their playing careers. For instance, every student-athlete will learn elementary French as a second language to help them adapt when they travel abroad," Awe emphasized.

It also provides competitive exposure and coaching excellence for its players alike. 

"The academy regularly participates in local and international tournaments to test players' skills against diverse competition, aiding their development and visibility. Furthermore, the academy organizes yearly tournaments in Europe for all budding student-athletes.

"GreenLock FA has invested in continuous education for coaches to keep them updated with the latest training methodologies and tactics."

Finding the right talent can be challenging, but Green Lock Football Academy has a strategic scouting network supported by robust international partnerships. 

"The academy boasts a comprehensive scouting network that extends across Nigeria, identifying promising talents in both urban and rural areas. This network is vital for discovering hidden gems and providing opportunities to players who might otherwise go unnoticed," Awe explains.

"Green Lock FA has established relationships with clubs and networks outside Nigeria, facilitating smoother transitions for top talents to reach global platforms. These partnerships expose players to different playing styles, coaching techniques, and competitive environments, enhancing their growth."

Currently, Green Lock FA partners with Antalyaspor in Turkey, FC Liria in Kosovo, and Gulf United FC in the UAE, among others, and over nine Green Lock FC players are engaged with these clubs, showcasing their talents internationally.

Regarding community engagement, Awe shares, "We have built strong relationships with local communities to create a sustainable talent pipeline and promote football at the grassroots level."

By focusing on these areas, Green Lock Football Academy effectively harnesses Nigeria's vast talent pool, producing well-rounded, skilled players ready for both local and international careers.

Greenlock FC: Turkish experts arrive Nigeria for football talents, coaches development

 

Greenlock FC Turkish Sporting Director Ahmet Arslan, along with renowned Coach Tayfun Sirin, have arrived in Abuja to oversee a series of intra-team matches and a high-profile friendly match at the Bwari Township Stadium. 

Their visit to Nigeria is part of an initiative aimed at enhancing the development of Nigerian football talent at Greenlock FC, with a particular focus on easing the players’ transition to European football clubs.

This initiative aims to refine player skills, optimize training schedules, and provide targeted development programs that will elevate athletes’ potential and prepare them for professional opportunities abroad.

During their stay, Coach Sirin will lead a comprehensive player development program designed to help players build the necessary technical, tactical, and physical qualities that will make them attractive prospects for European clubs. 

Training sessions will occur twice daily over the next eight days, concentrating on improving individual skills, team strategies, and match fitness.

In addition to intensive training, players will participate in recovery protocols to minimize injury risks and maintain peak physical conditions throughout the program. The coaching staff is committed to creating an optimal training schedule that incorporates rest and recovery, which are crucial for player longevity and performance.

"We are here to assist in the development of these young talents and prepare them for the challenges of professional football," said Arslan.

"Our goal is to help them transition from local football to the European football system while showcasing their skills, discipline, and mental resilience."

As part of the coaching program, Greenlock FC will hold intra-team matches to simulate competitive conditions and further assess player strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, a friendly match will be organized, providing an excellent opportunity for players to demonstrate their abilities in a real-game scenario.

These matches are significant as they serve as evaluation tools for the coaches and provide vital exposure for the players, giving them a chance to showcase their skills in front of local and international scouts.

At the end of the eight-day training period, the coaching staff plans to analyze the outcomes of the friendly match and intra-team games to identify specific areas that need further attention.

 "The friendly match and intra-team scrimmages will give us a clearer picture of each player’s development. We will be able to finalize the training programs based on these observations," Coach Sirin explained.

Subsequently, the coaches will adjust the training schedules to address any weaknesses while continuing to refine players’ strengths, with the ultimate goal of making them more competitive on the European stage.

The arrival of Sporting Director Ahmet Arslan and Coach Sirin marks a significant milestone in the ongoing development of Nigerian football. With their experience and international expertise, they are providing valuable insights into how local talent can be better prepared for the rigours of top-tier European football. 

This program is expected to open doors for many of these players, helping them transition smoothly into professional football careers abroad.

"We believe in the talent here in Nigeria," concluded Ahmet Arslan. "With the right development and exposure, these players will have the chance to thrive at the highest levels of the sport."

This initiative is part of a larger vision to not only enhance the skills of individual players but also to foster a stronger connection between Greenlock FC and other European clubs, potentially creating more pathways for young talents to succeed internationally.

Funsho Peters thumbs up productive partnership between GreenLock FC, Gulf United

 

As GreenLock FC continues to strive for excellence and arguably become one of the best football academies in Nigeria in terms of bringing young players to an international level, the Abuja-based side says its partnership with Gulf United is yielding a lot of results. 

The official agreement signed in 2023 signaled a multi-year relationship that trains and further develops both clubs through information sharing, workshops, and player deals.

With the astonishing move of quintuplets Ashiru Ibrahim, Daniel Odumu, Hamed Traore, Taofiq Yekini and Opeyemi Falade to the Eagles, Funsho Clifton Peters, Executive Vice Chairman of GreenLock FC, who is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) talks more about the partnership. 

"We're very pleased with the partnership, as it aligns with GreenLock FC's long-term goals.

"It also reaffirms GreenLock FC's commitment to being the career pathway to stardom for players, as we certainly look forward to developing more programs to help professionalise the football industry in Nigeria moving forward.

“Both clubs aim to continue to share knowledge and experience, as well as build the relationship in terms of exposing our talented players to the UAE football market.

Mo Jarad - Director of Gulf United said: "The aim is to support the growth of GreenLock FC's expansion within Nigerian football into becoming the leading developer of youth talent in the region.

"There are strong synergies between Green Lock and Gulf United. At the heart of

both clubs, there is a strong sense of purpose, and hunger to provide opportunities for young players in places which they traditionally may have not been found.

"We also find strong parallels between the growth and trajectory of UAE football and Nigerian football, as well as the abundance of talent that exists there. 

"We look forward to working together in a strategic and organized way and to have a real impact along the way."

Five GreenLock FC prodigies sign for UAE's Gulf United

 

In a groundbreaking move to become the best football academy in Nigeria, five prodigies from GreenLock FC of Abuja have signed with Gulf United FC, a top team in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ashiru Ibrahim, Daniel Odumu, Hamed Traore, Taofiq Yekini, and Opeyemi Falade have completed the move from Nigeria to join the Eagles.

This transfer not only showcases the exceptional talents of the five players but also represents a partnership between Gulf United FC and GreenLock to develop young players.

The players were hand-selected by the GreenLock FC scouting team in Nigeria.

Funsho Clifton Peters, Executive Vice Chairman of GreenLock, expressed his delight with this development.

"It's a privilege for GreenLock players to

have direct access to pathways such as the Gulf United FC. We are working hard to create a one-of-a-kind club in GreenLock which can attract regional and global attention.

"It's no secret that Nigeria has some of the best talent globally. Our aim, with the support of Gulf United, is to be able to provide the selected players at Green lock a development roadmap to success, which allows players to unlock their maximum potential and performance on the global stage of football."

Tudun Wada books NLO Cup final duel with Palm Syrup

 

Tudun Wada FC will lock horns against Palm Syrup FC in the final of the NLO Cup sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN and FirstCentral Credit Bureau, after defeating Green Lock FC 3-1 in the second semi-final on Wednesday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

After a goalless 45 minutes, the deadlock was broken by Peter Michael after he gave Tudun Wada the lead from a well taken penalty in the 57th minute.

Tudun Wada then got a two-goal cushion on the one hour mark after Yusuf Mohammed fired home from a second penalty kick. 

Green Lock FC then started what could have been a comeback for them in the 62nd minute, after Philip Onyedika found Damilola Adeyeye in the box, who after some careless defending from Tudun Wada, scored to make it 2-1.

As the game got to the last five minutes, it was a little too late for Green Lock FC in the 88th minute, as Mubarak Sani put the icing on the cake with the third goal, to send Tudun Wada to the finale in Abuja.

It will be another final for Tudun Wada FC, who were winners of the inaugural NLO Super Cup at the Uboma Secondary School Stadium Complex, Imo State.

The Bwari Stadium, Abuja will host the final and third-place match after the NLO Secretariat directed that there would be a third place game. 

With this Kun Khalifa FC will battle Green Lock FC for the bronze medal in the 3rd-place game before the epic final on Saturday December 9, 2023.