The President of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA), Osun State Chapter, Adebayo Adesina, has urged football coaches across the state to use the maiden Osun State Football Coaches Unity Cup 2026 to deepen professional relationships, promote sportsmanship and strengthen grassroots football development.
Adesina said the competition should go beyond the pursuit of trophies by creating an opportunity for coaches from different zones to connect, exchange ideas and reinforce their collective commitment to the growth of football in Osun State.
The tournament, scheduled for October 17 to November 14, 2026, at the Osogbo Grammar School Football Pitch in Osogbo, brings together eight teams representing different zones and coaching groups across the state.
Group A comprises Team Olafiranye, Ijesha Zone, Iwo Zone and Osogbo Zone, while Team Bekind, Ife Zone, Ikirun Zone and Ede Zone will compete in Group B.
The group stage will be played across three matchdays, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the semi-finals. The Group A winners will face the Group B runners-up, while the Group B winners will meet the second-placed team in Group A.
For Adesina, however, the significance of the competition extends beyond results on the pitch. The Unity Cup is intended to foster solidarity among coaches, encourage professional collaboration and provide a platform for strengthening the relationships that underpin football development at the grassroots.
He called on participating teams to approach their matches with discipline, mutual respect and a strong sense of fair play, urging coaches to see one another as partners in the development of the game rather than merely opponents in competition.
The Osun coaches’ president also appreciated the organisers, participating teams, supporters and other stakeholders for their contributions towards the tournament, while inviting football enthusiasts across the state to support the initiative.
True Guardian Backs Safeguarding Initiative
Adding a player-welfare dimension to the competition, sports and athlete management specialist Mr Olayiwola Olumuyiwa Ariyo has expressed his readiness to support the Unity Cup through the True Guardian initiative.
Through the initiative, Ariyo is collaborating with football coaches to develop a coach-led safeguarding and ethical recruitment framework for grassroots clubs.
The proposed framework seeks to equip coaches to promote safeguarding awareness, uphold ethical scouting practices and establish athlete-welfare procedures within grassroots football environments.
The initiative highlights the importance of protecting young players and promoting responsible recruitment practices as coaches and clubs continue to identify and nurture emerging talent.
With eight teams set to contest the inaugural title, the Osun State Football Coaches Unity Cup is positioned as both a grassroots football competition and a platform for building stronger professional ties within the state’s coaching community.
As the tournament progresses towards its November 14 conclusion, its broader ambition will be to translate the spirit of unity on the pitch into lasting cooperation among coaches working to move Osun football forward.
