Obuh: I Was A Taxi Driver

Before he attained fame and fortune as a National football coach, Obuh was forced to ply the roads of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, as a taxi driver to make ends meet.

“I lost my job as Kashimawo Laloko’s personal assistant at the Technical Department of the Nigeria Football Association then,” Obuh told SuperSport.com.

“To ensure my family did not starve, I had to become a kabu kabu (Taxi cab ) driver. Things were really hard for me at that time. I was served a letter by Fanny Amun telling me I had been sacked by the NFA (now Nigeria Football Federation). And this was after I had worked tirelessly for the Federation without pay for twelve months,” he said.

Obuh, who was also a former professional footballer, delved into the fashion world as cash became tighter.

“Money was at a premium and I went into tailoring. I was making clothes, even for the NFF and at a point people forgot I had anything to do with football. They were always referring to me as ‘tailor’, it was funny,” he said.

Obuh has risen through the ranks over the years and went on to tinker the Golden Eaglets to a second place finish at the Nigeria 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

“I always advise upcoming coaches never to give up irrespective of the odds they face on their way up.

“You cannot attain success if you do not face challenges, so I always advise them to keep a cool head and work hard at all times,” he said

Obuh will lead Nigeria Premier League side, Sharks F.C. of Port Harcourt to Abidjan this weekend for a third round, second leg WAFU club championship tie against Stella Club d’Ajdame of Cote d’Ivoire.