The story of KKD Academy, Amokachi, Lawal’s Alma mater

According to Lawal Basco, there wasn’t any co-ordination at the time. It was all about young boys with an immense passion for football coming together every morning and evening to have fun with the round leather.However, Basco, older and more experienced was drafted in by these same players to provide guidance and leadership to the […]

According to Lawal Basco, there wasn’t any co-ordination at the time. It was all about young boys with an immense passion for football coming together every morning and evening to have fun with the round leather.
However, Basco, older and more experienced was drafted in by these same players to provide guidance and leadership to the group and since then it has been a never ending love affair between Coach Basco and KKD Academy.
Located in its modest environment in Unguwar Sanusi, the academy continues to be a guiding light to many aspiring footballers hoping to break into the game professionally and make a name for themselves just like some of their predecessors.
Some of Nigeria’s Super Eagles biggest names like Daniel Amokachi, Dahiru Sadi and Garba Lawal all started in the academy before going on to leave their mark in international football. Basco recalls how happy he is each time any of his players succeeds and join the elite.
“It is always a pride and to be honest that is what keeps me going till tomorrow. To see a player start from nowhere, struggling to get boot and shin pads finally making it to the top of the game, being watched on television with people screaming their names, I feel happy to have played my part in what they have become” Coach Basco said.
On the number of players who have passed through the gates of KKD academy to fame and wealth, he said “They are too numerous to mention. However, I can mention Daniel Amokachi, Garba Lawal, Dahiru Sadi, Michael Eneramo who people called Mboma, and Taju Olaiya, the boy who can run from today till tomorrow. The good thing is that they haven’t forgotten us. Whenever they are in town, they come around with jerseys and good balls for us”.
He also said there’s a big difference between those players and today’s ones as the olden days players were hungrier for success and more disciplined unlike the present set that get arrogant after a single good game.
“ You just can’t compare, those ones are more disciplined, listened to instructions more, whatever you tell them to do on the pitch that’s exactly what they’ll do but today’s players want to enjoy success without suffering. After a single good game, they become super stars in their head and start acting big headed so that’s the problem”.
Another interesting aspect of their training sessions is that the boys are always paired alongside older players who are bigger than them in order to remove whatever fear they might have of physically imposing players.
“We always like to join them to play with the big boys because that way they get used to playing with all manner of players either physical or tactically. It goes a long way in helping them to develop into the ideal footballers, all round” the gaffer concluded.
The academy is still standing but our reporter observed that the single pitch used by the academy has remained the same after all these years, meaning there hasn’t been serious room for expansion and growth for the place.
As for the players who mostly come from a disadvantaged background the academy is an escape from their daily troubles and a ray of hope that they could become super star footballers someday.
Unlike modern football academies, the KKD academy are numerous, still operates inside an L.E.A primary school with no changing rooms for the players. There is shortages of balls, jerseys and boots for players who can’t afford them.