He screamed out instructions, as he urged his players on during an early morning training session of his team at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. Anthony Jibunoh is assistant coach of Dynamite FC, a federal amateur division 1 league side based in the Edo State capital. After the session he spoke with News Express, expressing confidence about the chances of his team to do well when the league commences in March.

“We are training hard, and the boys are responding to our drills. We are still building and I am confident that we will be adequately prepared when the league kicks off,” Jibunoh said.

Not so long ago, Jibunoh was coach of D.C Academy, a team that competed at the Edo State League and Challenge Cup competitions. They were noted for their high tempo football and tip-tap artistry. It is these characteristics that Dynamite would be hoping to display when the league kicks off.

On this particular morning, the focus of the training session was on ball-oriented tactical movements. There was also a short two-sided game that featured new players against some older members of the team.

Jibunoh informed News Express that as a young team, the financial health of Dynamite FC is very important, hence, aside from aiming to win trophies, they are also focused on the overall development of the players so that they could be moved on to bigger clubs for good amounts of money. To this end, he said that the coaches are working assiduously on improving players’ technique and physique as well as fine-tuning their tactical awareness and mental strength.

“I see football as business,” Jibunoh said. “When you are building a team you have to put everything in place. Our focus is to win trophies, get promotion and seeing our players go out from here to a bigger club and make money for themselves and also from this club that helped them develop.

•Photo: Coach Jibunoh.