Yusuf Awomosu is a young Nigerian footballer plying his trade in Bahrain– an oil rich Arab Kingdom headed by His Majesty, King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Yusuf Awomosu who is famous for the display of his abundant talents, expressive bundles of potentials and showcasing utility on the pitch, is fondly revered as, “Enu Ose” which literarily translates to, “Mouth Can’t Do It”. “Enu Ose” denotes an inspiriting and mentoring maxim popular among the Yoruba race which aimed at encouraging people to be enterprising and resourceful. “Enu Ose” upholds, promotes and connotes 4Ps (Perseverance, Persistence, Prayers and Patience), 4Cs (Consistency, Commitment, Caring and Constancy of purpose) and 4Ds (Daring, Diligence, Dedication and Determination).
And true to all these attributes traceable to “Enu Ose”, Yusuf is an epitome of all these attributes and worthy ambassador of these quality substances. Yusuf is like typical Nigerians reputed for their resilience, “Never Say Die” Spirit and “I Can Do” Mentality. Adaptability, creativity and versatility known with Nigerians is what Yusuf is also known for hence he is representing our “Green–White–Green” Flag very well in the diasporas. In this explosive interview, he bears his mind on how he is been faring well in Bahrain and as an authority in the game of football, proffered workable and sustainable solutions towards ensuring the rapid growth and sustainable development of sports generally in Nigeria. Excerpts below:
Halogen: Can the world get to know you?
Enu Ose: I am Yusuf Awomosu, a young passionate Nigerian footballer plying my trade in Bahrain. I’m an attacking midfielder creating spaces, supplying passes and assisting goal-scoring chances. I am also a utility player and I can play in any position on the field such as attacking winger. In fact, I can keep at the back and which I have done on several occasions. I am a team player and pride every football lover.
Halogen: Where and how did you start your football career?
Enu Ose: I started my football career at Soccer Football Future Academy (S.F.F.A), at Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State,Southwest Nigeria and have taken the football to many States in Nigeria before traveling abroad to Bahrain where I now trade my football potentials. Our academy is an ideal place to start a promising football career as the academy focuses on the combination of academics with football. The academy instills discipline and morality into its players as well as concentrates its resources on the future of its players; thereby creating better career for us. To that, i give profound kudos to our Head Coach, Mr. Akeem Araba fondly called, “Coach Man U”. He’s one coach that distinguished himself in many fronts, best among the rest and unwavering in his determination to give his players best football career. He is a selfless coach who neither compromises the promising career of his players for his pecuniary gains nor mortgages their talents development for his personal motives.
Halogen: We heard you now ply your football trade in Bahrain, how has it been so far?
Enu Ose: It’s been mixed feelings where the beginning was tough but the end is beginning to rosy and comfy as players in Bahrain are being paid nicely and treated royally. The tough beginning I had was as a result of the fact that the country wants to do all it takes in encouraging its own citizens into playing football but not at the expense of foreign players. They foremost, want to keep its citizens in choosing football career and develop their nation’s football. However, it is a better place to ply one’s trade in football because they are investing hugely in their unwavering determination to grow and develop football there. Generally, I have no regret traveling there to play football and develop my career in the sport.
The British Club, Bahrain facilities offer an appealing mixture of superb food, extensive beverage selection, great sports and leisure options, as well as fabulous live entertainment.
Halogen: What can you say are the differences between playing football in Nigeria and abroad especially Bahrain where you now trade your football potentials?
Enu Ose: The differences are many and clear in terms of availability of sporting facilities and rewarding of sports people regardless of the stage at which you are playing, from amateur to professional. Here in Nigeria, the needed supports are not easy to come by. You have to struggle to find you feet in football and need to strive to meet all your needs choosing career in football here.
But in abroad especially Bahrain, even if you are not playing at a League level, you will still be rewarded handsomely all in a bid to encourage and stimulate football growth and sports development holistically. Bahrain is determined to be ranked among the superpowers in football playing nations and in accomplishing that, their government is resolute by devising and adapting all strategies including “Catch Them Young” Initiatives.
And again, playing football abroad helps developing one’s football talents as you will be exposed to arrays of quality training kits, facilities and by tutored by Grade “A” coaches who are ready to take you through the technicalities and techniques of football.
Halogen: What are the challenges you have encountered as a footballer and how have you been able to overcome them?
Enu Ose: Challenges are part of life and every walk of life has its peculiar challenges. However, it not whether one gets knock down that matters but getting up is. Injuries are major challenges footballers face in their careers and I’m blessed because I always quickly recover from any injury I sustained while playing football. I’m not an injury-prone footballer, so I’m grateful to God for that.
Securing better place to ply your trade in football is another hurdle footballer has to face and I’m also happy I’ve scaled through and above that as I now have openings for my football career. And having personal training kits with which to develop oneself in football is another noticeable obstacle in having illustrious football career but I thank God, traveling to Bahrain, I’ve been able to surmount that as I now have enough personal training kits which I’m also using to discover and develop my daughters’ football talents as they are also endowed with bundles of football potentials.
Halogen: What have been your achievements, personal and collective trophies, awards and laurels since you started your football career?
Enu Ose: A lot because football is my calling; something that I have unquenchable passion for. From my humble beginning at Soccer Future Football Academy, we won many Ijebu Leagues and several other cups. And in Bahrain where I played, I was chosen as “Man of The Match” many times. I helped them climb the ladder of their league where we finished 5th in the 2023/2024 season and 3rd in the 2022/2023 season. I was also selected in the British Club’s best 5 players that participated in the 5-Aside Competition sponsored by Red Bull. In recognising my sterling performances and excellent records at British Club, Bahrain, I was issued a letter of credibility which is a testament to my goodness, proficiency and prolific on and off the field. My reputable credentials in football keep swelling enviably.
Halogen: What advice do you have for the young footballers coming behind you and taking you as their role model and mentor?
Enu Ose: Punctuality is the soul of business, says the maxim so, the first word of advice I have for young footballers is that they should be punctual at all times. They should be punctual at trainings and games. Discipline is another holistic factor that determines success or failure of every sportsmen and women as it can make or mar our careers in football. And when we talk about discipline, it means a lot of things ranging from what we put into our mouths to what we put on our bodies. From companies we keep to places we are visiting. And from what we read to what we are watching. When we stick to things that are wholesome and can positively contribute to our career development is “discipline” and we go astray towards all the unwholesome things that are detrimental to our career progression, it’s “indiscipline”. They should inculcate the habit of good listening and talk less. They should not be fond of complaining or condemning on and off the field.
Halogen: What can you say generally about sports development in Nigeria and how can sports be made rewarding careers here?
Enu Ose: A lots still have to be done for sports development in Nigeria. From provision of modern sports equipment and facilities to creation of enabling environment that will make choosing sports as career developing, rewarding and illustrious. I humbly want to appeal to Sports Commission, Ministry of Sports Development and all the three tiers of government to make sports development one of their priorities. Sports alone can make our nation better economically only if we develop it to advanced standard. And all the insecurity and restiveness our nation is witnessing can be addressed if we focus on sports development. This is because majority of the people causing restiveness and or being used for the insecurity are youths and if we develop our sports; such abundant energies they are using for destructions can be channelled for better usage.
Halogen: it’s been interesting talking with you. Thanks and wishing you best of luck in your future endearvours.
Enu Ose: You’re welcome and it’s my pleasure being given the privileges to be interviewed.
