Yemi Tella Was My Mentor, Dakkada FC Coach Reveals

Yemi Tella Is My Mentor, Dakkada FC Coach Reveals

By Akila Matawal

One name that is on everyone's lips at the moment in the Nigerian football sphere is Caleb Esu, the technical adviser of Dakkada International Football Club of Uyo.

The astute tactician has risen to prominence lately after taking the Nigeria Professional Football League by storm with his youthful side Dakkada FC.

Coach of the month nomination for November by the League Bloggers Award is testament to the incredible job Esu has done with the Nigeria National League Champions.

In an exclusive chat with www.bsnsports.com.ng, Esu has made revelations about his philosophy and the one who has mentored him in the field of coaching.

Every CAF 'A' coach should have a philosophy. You must have your own philosophy and believe in it; and as you do, that will always take you along…I believe in total football

The scintillating brand of football displayed by Dakkada FC under the tutelage of Caleb Esu solidifies this fact.

On who has had the most impact on him as a football manager, Esu reveals:

I should say to the public that I have a mentor as far as this game is concerned. He is my great teacher; though he is dead now. He taught me how to play good football and that is my head of department in the National Institute for Sports,Late Coach Yemi Tella. He has been the man behind what you are seeing now. He gave me the confidence.

Esu also shared fond memories of the 2007 FIFA Under 17 World Cup winner with Nigeria's Golden Eaglets.

In fact, he was so close to me that even those who are my colleagues will tell you. When I was doing my Higher National Diploma, he will always call me if I don't have any class to come and take on the grade three students and that really helped me a great deal. Most of our coaches who know me know i don't lack what to do in as much as football is concerned.

Under Esu's watch, unknowns players such as Isaac George, Moses Effiong, Spencer Bassey, Femi Ajayi, have blended with the experience of Harrison Ibukun and Aniekan Ekpe to make a statement in the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League Season with newcomers Dakkada FC as the team currently sits fifth on the NPFL log with 27 points from 17 games.