15th March, 2012
Coach Bankole Olowookere is one of the three assistant coaches selected by Lagos State Football Association, LAFA, for Team Lagos ahead of National Sports Festival holding later in the year. Coach Olowookere spoke with Grassroots Soccer Guide, GSG, about his coaching appointment and his plan for Team Lagos.
Were just appointed as one of the assistant coaches that will handle Team Lagos in the forthcoming National Sports Festival?
I am happy to be among the coaches that will lead the football team from Lagos State to the National Sports Festival.
How did you get the coaching job?
When I came back from Ghana recently, somebody told me that the LAFA was looking for coaches for Team Lagos. I applied for the job and they called me for an interview. That’s how I was selected
How many coaches applied for the job?
About 30 coaches applied for the job and at the end of the day, six were picked for both male and female teams.
What are the programmes for the teams? on ground.
We have started preparation already. More than 100 players have been invited for the screening exercise. Chief coach of the team, Tunde Lawson, and other coaching crew will select 34 players during the exercise and later submit the list to the Lagos FA for ratification.
Is it true that some people want their relations or friends to be in final list ?
It is not true. We coaches are giving free hand to do our job in order to come out with the best team.
I want to thank the members of the Lagos FA led by Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi for the opportunity given to us. I promise to give my best for Team Lagos at the Sports Festival.