Moshood Bola Abdulaziz, hailing from Kaduna, Nigeria, has emerged as a coaching pioneer with a remarkable career in football coaching, Soccernet.ng reports.
The retired Nigerian footballer has recently played a significant role for Finnish club, Atlantis FC, who have recently secured promotion to Finnish League Two.
However, questions on how the Nigerian coach could attain that feat have arisen among the Nigerian football faithful.
Bola’s coaching odyssey commenced in 1998 when he took charge of PK-35, a Youth Premier League team, laying the foundation for a promising career.
Over the years, he led Ponnistus FC, a Pro-Second Division team in Finland, between 2005 and 2008. Simultaneously, he played a significant role in overseeing the Helsinki International Youth Cup, an annual summer tournament.
The turning point in Bola’s career arrived on March 30, 2010, when he assumed the head coach role for Atlantis FC, a Pro-Second Division club in Finland. He was also the director of coaching for the youth team, Atlantis FC Akatemia.
Bola faced a formidable challenge at Atlantis FC, with the team suffering 12 losses in 13 pre-season games and securing just one draw before the 2010 season.
However, under his tutelage, Atlantis FC redeemed itself by winning its first game against FC FUTURA. Bola quickly earned a reputation for his rigorous training methods, standardised technical training, and strong discipline. Atlantis FC transformed into a formidable team in Helsinki.
Coach Bola’s contributions didn’t go unnoticed, and he gained recognition as a rising star among football coaches. His coaching style emphasised discipline and technical excellence, making him highly respected.
One of the most significant chapters in Bola’s career unfolded at the Mohammedan Sporting Club (MSC), the largest fan-based club in Kolkata and India. Despite 50 years of dormancy and a dwindling fan base, Bola revitalised the club.
He led MSC to victory, securing the elusive Durand Cup that had eluded them for 73 years. MSC’s unprecedented achievement included a historic 14-match winning streak, a 7-0 victory, and notable successes in state and national leagues.
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Bola’s coaching journey reached its pinnacle as he led Atlantis FC to secure promotion to Finland’s elite division.