Emmanuel Amuneke will be a major draw in the forthcoming Sudan Premier League season for obvious reasons. He’s the first Nigerian and a distinguished former African Footballer of the Year for that matter to handle a Sudanese club side after stepping into the shoes of Kwesi Appiah -the Ghanaian coach who departed Al Khartoum last year to take over Black Stars of Ghana reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN…
Emmanuel Amuneke, former Nigerian international, former star winger of Zamalek and FC Barcelona would be the cynosure of all eyes as coach of Al Khartoum Watani when the 2018 Sudan Premier League (SPL) season gets underway on February 9.
Amuneke will be a major draw in the SPL for obvious reasons; he’s the first Nigerian and a distinguished former African Footballer of the Year for that matter to handle a Sudanese club side after stepping into the shoes of Kwesi Appiah -the Ghanaian coach who departed Al Khartoum last year to take over Black Stars after their botched Russia 2018 World Cup campaign.
“Going to Sudan as coach of Al Khartoum is a new adventure for me ; and I’m sure this is the will of God at this time,” Amuneke, who presented the Coach of the Year Award to Egypt’s Hector Cuper at the 2017 Aiteo/ CAF Awards in Accra, told The Nation from Khartoum .“ I was actually planning some others things ahead of 2018 when I was invited by the management of Al Khartoum Watani and after seeing things on ground, I decided to give coaching the club a trial.
“I would say my love for coaching stopped me from turning down Al Khartoum but I see it as an opportunity to contribute to the success of the club and I’m going to give it my best shot,” added Amuneke who led Nigeria to win her record fifth U-17 World Cup title in 2015.
Characteristically, Amuneke doesn’t do things at half-measure and his puritanical devotion to duty dated back to his playing days; right from the humble beginning on the local scene with Julius Berger to Zamalek of Egypt; to the Super Eagles where he became a household name across the continent and then to the big-money move to Barcelona where injury unfortunately blighted his career to the same extent that he finally turned his attention to coaching.
“I asked myself several questions before deciding on my next line of action after my retirement as a footballer: ‘I’m capable of being a good coach? Do I have the temperament to impact knowledge as a coach? What would be my objectives as a coach or is it because of money involved?” Amuneke said in a yet to be published memoirs. “For weeks, I gave thoughts to these questions and several others; and I started making enquiries about where I could go for my professional training. I actually wanted to go to England because I felt I would be comfortable in an English class but ended up doing my first level coaching course in Spain in 2004.
“It was a bit tasking and tiring for me as I went through the course for three years and along the line I enjoyed what I was doing; I had the chance of training youth teams in Spain which was part of the course requirement and later, I got the opportunity to work under Jose Morales in Saudi Arabia.
“Working under Morales gave me the chance to learn more under a professional atmosphere which cannot be compared with what I went through with the youths while undergoing my coaching course; I had a nice experience in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hazm FC as I was able to learn a lot of things mostly on tactical formations; planning for a match; reading and interpretation of what the opponents would do.
“Morales assisted Jose Mourinho at Benfica and when we were in doubts about something, he would call Mourinho; it was a huge privilege to work under him and it helped my career as a coach.
“It also prepared me for others things and it was here that I left to be scout of Manchester United, the English club was then under the great coach, Sir Alex Fergusson before I finally returned to coaching on full-time basis but I thank Morales for the wonderful introduction to coaching,” he reiterated.
Since that expedition in Saudi Arabia, Amuneke has not looked back on his coaching career and has acquired the high-end UEFA Pro Licence Certificate. On the local scene, he handled defunct Julius Berger of Lagos and Ocean Boys of Yenogoa though with little success before landing in the national team set up when he was appointed first assistant to coach Manu Garba to tinker the U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets’ class of 2013.
Working in tandem with others, he provided the tactical nous for the team leading to their success at the FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 where Nigeria won her fourth title and producing along the line, players who are now contenders in the Russia 2018-bound Super Eagles in the mould of Leicester City’s duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi; goalkeepers Dele Alampasu (CD Feirense) & Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna) amongst others.
He was promptly promoted as Head Coach of the Golden Eaglets class of 2015 but it was not a smooth-sailing at the outset.
He described as a failure my many ‘arm-chair experts’ after the cadets flopped at the African U-17 Nations Cup in Niger since the Nigerian youngsters barely made the cut as one of the continent’s flag-bearers to FIFA World Cup Chile 2015 after coming fourth behind Mali, South Africa and Guinea Amuneke recalled what he described as one of my traumatic experiences in coaching: “ I think I was badly judged after Niger 2015; we did reasonably well based on the circumstance we found ourselves after some of our key players were affected by the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Test two weeks to the tournament in Niger.
“We had to improvise to ensure that we qualified for the World Cup in Chile as the defending champions; we did our best in Niger and it was a big deal to me because out of the four African teams that were in the UAE 2013, only Nigeria qualified for Chile 2015.
“As a coach, I evaluate myself constantly and seeking ways to improve myself and my team; call me a good coach or bad coach and I will not argue with you about it because I know who I am,” he offered with askance.
Back from the debacle in Niger, Amuneke channelled his energy to work come rain and sunshine and eventually turned the fortune of the team around .But it was at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 when his coaching ingenuity final came to the fore when he led the hitherto unsung side from Niger to conquer the world for what is now a record fifth title for Nigeria at the global cadet competition.
He explained: “Winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile was a landmark in my career as a coach and I’m happy that it ended in glory. I was happy because we were written off because of our poor performance at the Africa U-17 Tournament in Niger despite the fact that we finished fourth; the team was abandoned like orphans but we did our best to win the World Cup.”
He was promptly promoted to the national U-20 team and he drafted almost all the players from the all-conquering Golden Eaglets to the Flying Eagles. But the team unfortunately faltered and failed to qualify for the African U-20 Nations Cup following a dramatic home loss to Sudan.
“Losing to Sudan in Lagos was another bitter experience for me as coach” admitted Amuneke. “We won away in Khartoum but I can’t still figure it out why we lost the return leg in Lagos; it was regrettably but I have put that at the back of my mind.”
During his self-imposed sabbatical from coaching, Amuneke turned his attention to other things. He was actively involved with activities as one of the FIFA Legends when India hosted the last FIFA U-17 World Cup and was equally called upon by CAF to share his knowledge of the game at its organised conferences.
He explained: “I have a lot of things to do; honestly I wasn’t thinking of returning to coaching quickly after the Flying Eagles and that was why I didn’t bother to reapply for the job.
“But I can’t turned away the opportunity of coaching Al Khartoum; coming to Sudan was not all about the money but I considered it as a good platform to show what I can do under a different environment ; so I agree with you that coming to Sudan is like an adventure but I’m determined to do my best with Al Khartoum.”
Bankrolled my wealthy businessman, Mamoun Bashir , Al Khartoum is yet to be crowned champions of Sudan Premier League since their promotion to the elite class in 1996- the same year the Nigeria U-23 Olympic Eagles (tagged Dream Team) won Africa’s first Olympic soccer Gold medal with Amuneke scoring the match-winning goal in the 3-2 victory over Argentina.
“Yes, I’m aware that Al Khartoum has not won the title here since they were promoted in 1996,” noted Amuneke, who also scored the brace when Nigeria beat Zambia 2-1 to win the African Cup of Nations in 1994. “In football, there is nothing like impossibility; and I see some relevance in winning the Olympic Gold medal with Nigeria in 1996 and my new assignment here in Sudan.
“The most important thing is to work very hard. It is a new environment and culture for me but the players are adjusting to our style and tactics,” he noted.
With Amuneke on this assignment at Al Khartoum are two experienced former Nigerian youth internationals- Emeka Amadi who doubles as an assistant and goalkeeper trainer and Taiwo Enegwa as the other assistant.
“I choose Amadi and Enegwa to work with me in Sudan because I believe they can contribute to the success of the team,” he offered. “I’d worked closely with Amadi before when we won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the UAE and Chile; and we were also together with the Flying Eagles; and I know what he’s capable of doing.
“I have also known Taiwo for some time; and you know, he was one of the best players in his heyday. This assignment is an opportunity for him to impact on the players as coach; I have no doubt that both Amadi and Enegwa will contribute to the success of the team,” he stressed.
Amuneke has started his journey in Sudan on a good note by winning string of friendly matches including victories over Shabia SC (4-0); Karjoc(2-0) ; Shabab Nasri (5-1)and Hilal Kadogly (3-1) ahead the forthcoming SPL season and this underlines the fact that that Al Khartoum will be one of the teams to beat this term.
Between Amadi and Enegwa at Al Khartoum
To work with Emmanuel Amuneke at Al Khartoum Watani is the duo of Emeka Amadi and Taiwo Enegwa, two former junior internationals who has since made their own names as coaches.
But who is Amuneke in the eyes of his trusted lieutenants at Al Khartoum?
“ I have known Amuneke for long and I know his technical know-how and abilities,” began Amadi, former youth international goalkeeper who won Silver with the Flying Eagles at FIFA U-20 World Cup Saudi Arabia 1989.
In his heyday, Amadi featured for Enugu Rangers international; Bendel insurance before moving to Germany where we had stints with SV Steinheim; FC Brakel and Hannover’96. He also featured for Tus Celle; FC Oberneuland and SV Nienhagen where he retired and took coaching appointment.
“Amuneke and I shares the same ideology and it’s nice working with him here again at Al Khartoum; and I’m confident we are going to succeed because we both love challenges ; he is a very hard working person just as I’m and we know that hard work pays,” noted Amadi who has blooded a string of upcoming goalkeepers including Dele Alampasu (UAE 2013]and Akpan Udoh(Chile2015).
Incidentally, going to Al Khartoum Watani has presented Amadi the opportunity of teaming up with his former Flying Eagles’ mate, Taiwo Enegwa.
‘Energy’ as Enegwa was fondly called in his playing days, was regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation . He played for clutches of domestic clubs including Eagle Oil FC, First Bank Julius Berger, Delta FC of Gabon, Union Bank, 3SC of Ibadan, Sunshine Stars before winding up his playing career with Union Bank in 2000. At the national team level, Enegwa was a member of the Silver –winning Golden Eaglets at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Canada 1987 and two years later, he also won silver with the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Saudi 1989. He was also part of the Super Eagles’ golden era of the 1990s and was used sparingly by coach Clemens Westerhof between 1990 and 1992. Since retirement into coaching, Enegwa has worked at Union Bank, Stationery Stores and Glorious Day Academy-all based in Lagos.
“ My assignment here in Sudan is a new challenge in my coaching career,” the 46-year-old holder of Advanced Regional Diploma National Soccer Coaching Association of America told The Nation.
“ It is an opportunity to work with coach Emmanuel Amuneke and my former teammate, Emeka Amadi; these are people with different mentality, attitude, culture and orientation.
“I think coming here with them would afford me the chance to learn more about the rudiments of the game and better my own capacity for the future,” added Enegwa who bagged the CAF B License Coaching Certificate in 2017.
AMUNEKE WORDS ON MARBLE
Between Amunike and Amuneke
My name was simply misspelled during my playing days and since then it had stayed. Throughout my playing days I was using ‘Amunike’, but now, I prefer to use the correct name: ‘Amuneke’.
Between theory and practical
I read a lot and I have gone out to see how other coaches do their job and I pick what I think is relevant and add them to what I already know. I’m passionate about football and coaching …without passion, nobody can achieve anything in life. I always want my players to have information about the opponents and not just going to the field because we just want to play and doing that gives the player a better insight before even entering the pitch. I’m still growing as a coach…. but with hard work and help of God, I would be somebody as a coach.
On coaching philosophy
I always want my players to be responsible and enjoy their game because football is an art. Playing football talent is a gift from God ;I want my players to be able to express their talent and be disciplined while expressing themselves. I love my team to be well organised though it is sometimes difficult because of the level of assimilation of some players. But I want my team to be responsible; defend collectively and organise ourselves so well that opponents cannot easily break us. We must assume responsibility as individuals and as a team.
