The fast growing football academy in Iwo, Osun State, Alamu FC has gone more technical by appointing an experienced soccer maestro into the team’s management.
Femi Opabunmi is a Nigerian former footballer who has traveled wide and far in pursuit of football excellence is tipped to be a great addition to the team.
The 36 year old has played for a few clubs in both local and international level which included Shooting Star Sport Club (3sc) of Ibadan Oyo state, Grasshoppers Club in Zurich Switzerland, Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Chamois Niortais in France.
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Opabunmi is a known figure among the Nigerian football fans, he scored a goal to help Nigeria win the African U-17 Championships in 2001 and with Collins Osunwa out injured, he became Nigeria’s key player at 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship.
He scored a hat-trick against Australia and won him the Silver Shoe as second highest goalscorer and also the Bronze Ball as third best player in the tournament, helping Nigeria to reach the final before losing to France.
Also, he attracted attention from clubs such as Manchester United, Lyon and Celta Vigo.
He played for the most senior Nigerian team (Super Eagles) and made his debut in 2002 against Kenya scoring the second goal in a 3-0 win.
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He was a participant at the 2002 FIFA World Cup playing against England in the last group stage match becoming the 3rd youngest player (2nd from Africa) to ever play in the World Cup finals after Norman Whiteside and Samuel Eto’o.
He retired from professional football in 2006 due to issues with his left eye.
The Alamu Footbal Academy boss, Engr. Olalekan expressed happiness in the appointment, tagged the new coach as “Big Fish” to the team.
Engr. Olalekan stressed that Femi Opabunmi is not just a plus to his team but also to the entire grassroots football teams as he will use his wide experience to promote the football of the community.
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Femi Opabunmi also thanked the team for the great opportunity, and narrated parts of what prompted him to get set for the task is to develop the grassroots football in Iwoland.
He noted that, the numerous efforts of Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi Telu I in promoting and introduce Iwoland to the outer world is very encouraging and he is glad and proud that he hails from the ancient town. It is in this light that he has decided to contribute his own quota by using what he has gained to develop football in Iwo the young footballers in Iwoland. The ex super eagle star is from Oluponna, a town in Iwoland under the kingship of Ọba Telu 1.
The team management will announce the official unveiling and signing of Femi Opabunmi this month.
