A former midfielder at Agege Centre of Pepsi Football Academy, Daniel Itodo is waxing strong as the head coach at Grass Runners FC of Sagamu and close to clinching a promotion ticket.
Sports247 gathered that, with just a match to go in the third-tier Nationwide League One (NLO), Grass Runners are top of the Maracana Group table, which puts them in pole position for promotion.
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That would become a remarkable success story for Itodo, who started coaching in 2009 at Pepsi Football Academy, because he agreed to continue serving the institution that produced him.
It was from the project established by iconic coach, Kashimawo Laloko that Itodo was invited to the Flying Eagles’ camp in 2005, alongside John Mikel Obi, Chinedu Obasi and Emmanuel Fabiyi.
Although he did not make the final squad that won silver at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Netherlands, Itodo said he gained a lot while in camp, all of which he is now finding useful as a coach.
Also part of his experience as a player was the short stay he enjoyed at Maseda FC of Togo, which Otodo said gave him a good idea about the demands of playing in a foreign country where English is not their first language.
His tactical itinerary then took him to Future Pro of Ebule Egba in Lagos, from where he relocated to Abuja under the umbrella of Emeka Obasi, first with H-Buzz FC, then to City FC as an assistant coach and then head gaffer of Sporting Supreme FC in Nigerian National League (NNL).
With his sojourn at Grass Runners still fresh, Itodo is hoping to make huge marks to end the season a high by winning the NLO group title and gain promotion with the team owned by Mr Gbenga Agbejoye.
“I thank our chairman for believing in me and all the coaches for trusting my ability. I am highly honoured with their presence, especially as many of them are older than me.
“I am also grateful to God for this opportunity, especially as we have two icons – Dimeji Lawal and Edith Agoye – among our officials in the club,” Itodo submitted humbly.
