ABUBAKAR SOLIHU SABO: A RISING COACH IN ILORIN'S FOOTBALL SCENE

By: Siyanbola Rukayat Adeola

Abubakar Solihu Sabo currently serves as an assistant coach for the Under-17 team at Kasam Football Academy in Ilorin. His journey into football began at a young age, driven by a deep passion for the sport. However, due to personal circumstances, he shifted his focus from aspiring to be a footballer to pursuing a career as a coach. This transition was solidified when he gained admission to the University of Ilorin to study Human Kinetics, a course that aligns with his interests in sports and health.

Abubakar started playing football around the age of 5 or 6, inspired by his elder brother, who acted as both a guide and mentor in the sport. His early experiences with football not only nurtured his athletic skills but also helped him learn to read and write through his engagement with the game. He played primarily as a left-back before transitioning to a defensive midfielder. Unfortunately, he stopped playing competitively in 2014 due to various challenges, including discouragement, financial difficulties, and educational pressures.

Despite these setbacks, Abubakar remains dedicated to his coaching career. He trains five times a week, with additional special training sessions on weekends to prepare for the upcoming week. These sessions focus on enhancing both physical and mental abilities, as well as balance as a player. 

He credits Coach Kazeem Alasa as a significant mentor in his journey, guiding him toward becoming a well-rounded coach..

He has participated in a well-known brand tournament, the Milo tournament, in 2011, which was a great opportunity for young aspiring footballers. Additionally, there are community tournaments held every year in his neighborhood.

While he doesn’t have proudest moments as a footballer due to not playing at a peak level, his proudest moment as a coach came when he was appointed as an assistant football coach at Kasam Football Academy in August 2024.

Although he has no matches as a football player, he has one memorable event as a coach that had a significant impact on him. He won a match against Fabash Academy, his former team, and felt immense happiness and pride in his work that day. He made a promise to himself to become a professional in coaching.

The challenges he faced in his community as a footballer included a lack of encouragement for football or any sports, even from his parents.

There are numerous facilities that support his career and growth at Kasam Football Academy, including training centers and medical facilities.

He was able to balance his other responsibilities with football because it’s already part of him and he sees it as a career already. 

His only supportive system was his elder brother and his cousin which names are. Saliu Yusuf sabo and Teslim Issa sabo. 

There’re are a lot of local organizations that helps young player in the likes of kasam football academy and other football academy too. 

The community founds it difficult to respond positively to the hound ones aspiring for sport career because they believe it’s all a waste of time. 

As a former footballer, he aspired to play for Arsenal FC, but he later diverted his career path to become a coach.

The first step is find best people around you that can motivate you, encourage and support you in all areas. I find good people, I network to meet people and I determined to be successful in the career.

Thierry Henry is my football idol, I started watching his ball at tender end of 6, he made me developed the passion for football as player then.

A lot about it, I learnt that sports unite people from different cultures and ethnics together, also about the be consistency in anything you’re doing and also learnt that life is gradual process and to achieve your peak you have to surround yourself with good people.

To be candid, the financial aspect of sports and also want to change the perspective of my community people about sports.

Organizing an any sports gathering make the community develop because it will attract a lot of personalities and also a sports enthusiast to know more about the community. 

They should not stop dreaming, if you can dream it, you can achieve it and football is not a something you can start and achieve on time cos it requires a lot of endurance and patience with energy and a good concentration with commitment.

They should not stop their football path no matter the obstacles soon they will arrive to their peak.

Thierry Henry, he has been motivate and be my mentor right from my younger age, I played this football to become a professional I would have love to meet him in person and tell him how I admire and love him is style of play and personal life on and off the field.

They should all follow me in attain the peak of this football coaching cos I wish and pray to become one of the best coach in all whole of universe not just Nigeria or Africa.

They should also supports me both in advice and also financial cos to attain a peak at football coaching, you have to go to course like NIS, CAF and UEFA licensed certificate. 

 

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Siyanbola Rukayat Adeola 

CHIEF EDITOR 

Adelaja Eniola David