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Former Golden Eaglets Assistant Coach Bunmi Haruna confirms talks with Cameroonian side YOSA FC
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Former Nigeria U17 (Golden Eaglets) assistant coach Bunmi Haruna has confirmed that he has held discussions with Cameroonian club Young Sports Academy (YOSA FC) over their vacant head coach position.
YOSA, owned by Portugal-based businessman Emma Mimba, are seeking a new manager following the departure of former Indomitable Lions coach Alexandre Belinga after the club’s relegation to the second division.
Reports suggest Mimba was impressed by Haruna’s tactical approach when his side Blue Ocean FC reached the semifinals of the EIBER Cup U19 competition in Portugal, and has identified him as a candidate to lead YOSA’s rebuild.
Haruna acknowledged the talks but clarified that nothing has been finalised.
“Yes, I spoke with the club’s president (Mimba), but we are yet to agree on anything. I must thank him for this gesture because it shows the efforts I have put into developing myself have not gone unnoticed.”
The Nigerian coach, who recently became a CAF Instructor, also praised Mimba’s emphasis on modern tactical football.
“We met in Portugal and basically discussed football generally, but I noticed he was big on the tactical aspect of the game and was always wanting to know why we played the way we played.”
While Haruna admits he dreams of working abroad, he stressed that the right conditions must be in place.
“It is my dream to coach abroad, to take my philosophy and passion to a different culture, but the conditions have to be right.”
Haruna is among a growing number of Nigerian coaches pursuing opportunities outside the country, with Salisu Yusuf and Oladuni Oyekale already working in neighbouring Benin Republic.
