By Akanni Seyi
Former Super Eagles player Duke Udi was unveiled today by the State Government of Osun as Chief Coach of state owned football club, Osun United FC (formally Prime FC of Osogbo).
Udi was presented to pressmen at the state Secretariat, Executive Council Chamber in Osogbo, by the state Chief of Staff (CoS), Mr Gboyega Oyetola in company of Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, Chairman of Osun Utd FC.
While speaking at the unveiling, the CoS, Oyetola said, sports was important to the human life and that was why the state government was giving sports development and the Osun Utd the needed support.
He said, despite scarcity of funds in the state, the state government ensured that the club was provided with needed funds to achieve required results and perform optimally.
In his own remarks, Chairman of Osun Utd FC Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi said the new Coach was a fantastic footballer during his playing days and that he played a vital role in the victories recorded by the 3SC in the mid-90s.
He said the coach was selected on merit after screening and that, though no one was perfect, the management of the club had made a right choice in his selection.
The new chief coach, Udi, while addressing newsmen said, he was thankful to the state government and management of the club for giving him the opportunity to coach and lead the club.
He however ask for the support of everybody in the state to deliver on the mandate given to him, to qualify the team to the premier league.
“We need everybody’s support to move the club to the premier league so, I need everybody to move with me in the right and same direction.
“I came to this club to make a statement and deliver, I am not promising anything, but I will give my best and I pray my best brings the required results.” he said.
Coach Udi was adjudged to be the best candidate out of 22 coaches who were grilled for the Chief Coach position, to handle the club through the 2016/2017 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
The 41-year-old former Giwa FC and Rangers International Football Club coach, would be assisted by Bayo Adesina, Kazeem Oseni and Ajayi Obe, as assistants coaches, while Tunji Baruwa, would serve as the goalkeeper trainer. The appointment takes immediate effect as gathered by soccernet.com.ng