By Saheed Afolabi
Greatness Sporting Club has appointed Coach Felix Ifeanyi Nwosu who is popularly referred to as Abacha as their new head coach.
The former Arsenal FC selected best young coach in Africa was unveiled by the club at the Abakaliki Township Stadium Ebonyi on Wednesday, as he resumed work at the club immediately.
The young and vibrant coach who has coached Right2win SC, Dream Stars Ladies, Delta Force FC, Ambassador Child Youth Club, and GreenFoot Sports Academy, loves to work with the youth, identifying their potential and nurturing it to stardom.
The CAF C certified coach and an Instructor with FCAAN who has previously coached Heegan FC in the Somali Premier League, reads the game well, and he brings his high level of understanding of football to bear.
He loves to set up his team for depth technical play while retaining possession of the ball and penetration as his style in the game. He is also regarded as one of the most disciplined coaches in the Nigerian football scene.
Coach Felix Ifeanyi Nwosu, popularly known as Abacha in the football circle says it’s an honour to be considered for the job as he has gone through the project, aims and objectives of the club and he cannot but accept the offer as the nearest future looks great with the Greatness Sporting Club’s project.
“This is a huge honour said Abacha, immediately he took the club’s jersey during the unveiling and thanked the management for finding him worthy of the big task ahead.
“It’s a huge honour to be considered for the huge task ahead, I know it’s not going to be easy but I am prepared and ready for the job as achieving the dreams of the owners of the club is a task that must be done, with the support of everyone in the club I believe we can do it.”
Speaking immediately after the unveiling, the club owner, Francis Sunday Ikechukwu, says Coach Felix Abacha has a rich CV and experience that matches the club’s immediate and long-term ambition.
“Coach Felix has the requisite experience to lead the club to achieve our immediate goal and long-term goals, having played the game at the highest level and his experience on the job, both at the grassroots and elite clubs, is the right mix that makes him a perfect choice for us.
“His closeness to the grassroots, his ability to identify burden talents and give them the necessary tutelage for quick growth and development makes the decision an easy one for us, as one of the ambitions of the club is to always go to the inner cities in Nigeria, to identify real young talents and nurture them to face any football challenge at any level and coach Felix Abacha ticks the box.”
The Deputy Director of Sports in Ebonyi State, Hilary Obiesie who was present at the event described the event as a groundbreaking one for Greatness Sporting Club and thanked the club owner, Francis Ikechukwu Sunday for assisting youth development in the state through sports.
“It’s a groundbreaking day for greatness Sporting Club and we are happy to be part of the history today.
“I thank the chairman, the owner, Mr Francis, he has done so well to extend what God him to the development of the youth in the state.”
The Ebonyi Football Association Assistant Secretary, Ikechukwu Stephen Itumo was also on the ground during the unveiling and tasked coach Felix Nwosu to give his best at all times.
“I want the coach to stand up and give his best from his heart at all times, Ikechukwu Stephen stressed.
The representatives of Ebonyi State Referee Council were also present at the event.
Coach Felix will work with Onyeka Okoro, the team manager and Chukwudi Nwankwo who will serve as the assistant coach.
Greatness Sporting Club, whose moniker is “Great Panthers” was founded in 2023 and the club is set to play in the 2023/2024 National League One and also has registered for the National FA Cup(Aiteo Cup).
One of the club’s ambitions is to become a platform for real young talents to showcase their talent, give them a path to stardom and build a football club that will be one of the biggest exports of real football talents from Africa.