“If you believe, you go defeat, stand up to your feet, and say no to your defeat. Cool temper!!”
When this jam by J.Martins was released in 2008, it was a hit all around. Different age groups jammed to the song as it was relatable in every aspect of life. It was a song that gave motivation and confidence in every situation. It was a song that taught patience, perseverance, and determination.
And truly the song is the definition of Onigbinde Akinade’s journey who is the current head coach of Gombe-based Nigeria Premier Football League side, Doma United – the Savannah Tigers.
So far in the 2023/2024 NPFL season, Onigbinde Akinade and his tigers are having a meticulous season. The Savannah Tigers currently hold the record for the longest unbeaten streak -6 after 10 weeks of action. This has helped them sit in second position on the log, 2 points off the zenith and 1 point above the others.
The good form has also seen the goalkeeper Osayi Kingdom become the safest hand in the league with 8 clean sheets from 10 games.
But before Doma United, Onigbinde had been on a journey that ensured he was taught lots of perseverance and patience.
The gaffer had begun his coaching journey from the very amateur level in Niger state with Tafa Local Government Football Club.
“I started from the amateur club side – Tafa in Niger state. We played the Local Government chairman cup several times.”
Bringing his sojourn in Niger state to an end, Onigbinde got his first professional contract at Abuja-based clubside, Road Safety Football Club in 2009. He became the face of the club nurturing the team for 13 years.
“I got my first professional job at FRSC in 2009. It was a surprise because I had not even thought I would become a full time coach.”
Having to develop a paramilitary club to become a professional football club takes lots of patience, perseverance, and determination.
“I was there to drive the team from the NLO to NNL in 2009. I won the Abuja FA Cup 5 times back to back. It was back and forth there from NLO to NNL and back again.”
After 13 years of serving at Road Safety, Onigbinde Akinade moved on to Doma United in 2022. The gaffer became the technical adviser of the team in the NNL and saw them through a historic promotion into the topflight.
Onigbinde is writing his name in gold in the hearts of all Doma United fans and at large in the hearts of all Gombe people. But as expected there is a difference between playing in the second division and playing in the topflight.
“Arrh! There is a lot of difference. It is very tough in the NNL; playing more than 13 years in the NNL is not easy. I learnt alot, it is not easy. The game there is too rugged, you can’t set your plans straight unlike in the NPFL.”
“Day in, day out, playing in the NNL is not easy. I feel more comfortable playing in the NPFL than the NNL. it is not easy there at all.”
But the journey with the Savannah Tigers has not been smooth either. Onigbinde has maintained Doma United’s NPFL status for another season having only got promoted for the very first time in 2022.
But he highlighted that the journey has not been “easy.”
“It started from the recruitment process. We needed lots of experienced players because we knew the task ahead was a very tough one.” The CEO of the club said, “He will put everything into ensuring we remain at top; which he did.”
“We almost qualified for Super 6 last season but that draw against Enugu Rangers took our chances away. We faced some challenges last season like transportation.”
“For example we are based in Gombe and traveling to maybe Lagos to play in the weekend and by Wednesday we are playing in Gombe, the fatigue from the travels tells on us.”
“Because of that, we realized we need to be dropping some playing at home to be training so when we return from long journeys we can have a good number of fit players available for the next game.”
It has been a jolly ride for the Savannah Tigers in the NPFL so far but their gaffer could also have been the one kicking the ball if his football career had worked out.
Onigbinde had played for a few amateur clubs in his youth. Like many other failed football projects, the injury was not kind to the now tactician.
“I played ball when I was younger. I played for a few amateur sides in Abuja like FCDA FC and Abuja Bergers before I got injured. After I got injured, I decided to stop playing.”
The challenges including that of language barriers and culture shocks have not stopped Onigbinde from chasing his targets. The Osun state native had not coached outside the northern part of the country in his over 15 years career and he says he feels “at home” in the north.
“Coaching here is very easy for me. I lived here, I schooled here, I married here so I am already a northerner. I speak the language (Hausa) very well as well. My dad was also based here so I am used to it all – the culture, the food, everything.”
Onigbinde has been a journeyman all his life. He has traveled through the test of time with patience, determination, and perseverance and he is taking Doma United through the same path to the very top spot in the NPFL.
It might be just 10 weeks gone down out of the 38 but Onigbinde and his Doma United team have shown lots of qualities of growth and consistency. How much of that they can show for the rest of the season is what will define the terrific season they are having so far.
SOURCE: SPORTSINTEL