Top-rated youth coach, Chuks Akuneto applies for Golden Eaglets job

A top-rated youth coach, Chukwuma ‘Chuks’ Akuneto has applied for the coaching job of the Nigerian Under-17 Boys National Team known as the Golden Eaglets.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) last Friday threw open the application for the coaching jobs of the Super Eagles and the Golden Eaglets who were last managed by Nduka Ugbade.

Akuneto who is a highly dedicated and driven UEFA A Licenced coach who has accumulated experience through coaching roles in India and England thereafter expressed interest in becoming the next manager of the Golden Eaglets.

The Manchester, England-based Akuneto who made the transition into the coaching sector following a playing career that spanned 15 years across five countries has now officially submitted his application to the NFF.

“As for my application, I believe I will make an excellent candidate of the position of Head coach of The Nigerian National under 17 boys team,” said Akuneto.

“As part of the essential criteria for this role, I would like to state that I hold the UEFA A licence, UEFA B Licence and the FA Youth Award which were all gained through the English Football Association.

“Other qualifications relevant to the role are a current PGCE teaching degree, demonstrating my ability to educate and support people to get better.”

Akuneto has had almost two decades of extensive experience working across the 16-19 age groups with distinction when viewed in terms of player development, results and trophies won with different age groups.

He has also developed fantastic human beings while possessing a profound awareness of the game as a footballer, great knowledge of the principles of play as a coach and he also has good people skills.

Akuneto, having worked with football clubs such as Oldham Athletic, Stockport County and Radcliffe Borough all in the United Kingdom has always exhibited hard work, dedication and a positive attitude in finding a way to support players in their learning and hopes to bring all these into play if appointed as the Golden Eaglets’ coach.

The former Nigerian player is the brain behind Next Steps Football Coaching, a bespoke personal improvement and fitness training outfit which has helped to develop countless professional, semi-professional and grassroots players of all ages.

Akuneto once counted former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo among his clientele which also included Tom and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Watford and Hatayspor respectively.