The Rising Royal Int’l Football Academy has taken a bold step in youth development with the appointment of Comrade Lawal Oluwaseun Ahmad, popularly known as O’Skillful, as its new Technical Director. In this exclusive interview, he speaks about the academy’s ownership, history, coaching crew, objectives, facilities, and future plans.
Technical Director Rising Royal int’l Football Academy
The Owner and History of the Academy
The academy is owned by Aremo Adeleke Adesanwo, a businessman and philanthropist, who once worked as an accountant at the Central Bank of Nigeria. His passion for youth empowerment through sports inspired him to establish the academy.
“Aremo believes youth development is crucial to national growth. He also understands that government alone cannot handle it without the support of individuals and corporate organizations,” O’Skillful explained.
Though the academy was established just a year ago, it already boasts modern facilities. According to the new director, its short history has been a great source of inspiration.
“It’s amazing to see how much has been achieved in such a short time. My goal is to build on this foundation and take the academy to greater heights through stronger connections, marketing, and partnerships.”
The Coaching Crew
Heading the coaching staff is Coach Abubakar Yusuf (a.k.a. Salas), a retired professional footballer who played for Kwara United, ABS FC, Cynosure FC, and Okaa Sports Club. He brings invaluable experience and passion to the team.
“Salas is a blessing to the academy. His experience as both a player and a certified advanced coach is already shaping the team positively,” O’Skillful noted.
The coaching team also includes an assistant coach, Olayinka AbdRasheed another retired footballer described as highly committed and resourceful.
As Technical Director, O’Skillful promises discipline, unity, and training programs designed in line with FIFA’s elite football standards. He also intends to lead scouting initiatives to discover talented young players.
Aims and Objectives
O’Skillful laid out both short- and long-term objectives for the academy.
“I want to create a lasting legacy—a foundation upon which lasting success can be built. We’ll focus on networking with partners and scouting 14- to 16-year-old players who can be groomed for professional contracts,” he said.
He also emphasized a unique football philosophy:
Possession-based play with speed
Utilization of wings to create scoring opportunities
Aggressive attacking approach, with all players contributing to offensive play
On the academy’s role in the community, he added:
“This academy is a model that deserves to be studied. Its activities are worth emulating.”
The Players
Though most players are still young and relatively unknown, the Technical Director expressed excitement about their potential.
Plumi Sanni – 16-year-old striker, 1.85m tall, a promising attacking talent.
Adebayo Olasunkanmi – versatile 16-year-old defender (1.56m), capable of playing dual roles.
Malik Adepoju – 16-year-old defender noted for composure and timing, regarded as “a symbol of progress in this project.”
To aid player development, O’Skillful revealed plans to bring in facilitators, including referees, coaches, Psychologist, and nutritionists, to provide holistic training for the players.
Academy Facilities
The academy is located in Isonyin, Training ground /Isonyin Grammar School ijebu an environment chosen to ensure player focus and concentration.
Facilities include:
Standard training equipment
Comfortable camp facilities
Smart and cable TVs for education and match reviews
“The facilities are top-notch, and there are definite plans for future upgrades,” he confirmed.
Beyond training, the academy fosters unity by bringing together players, coaches, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
“There is absolute peace here regardless of ethnicity or cultural differences,” O’Skillful emphasized.
Closing Remarks
The new Technical Director concluded the session with optimism and gratitude:
“I am thankful for this role. Hard work truly pays, and I am committed to taking Rising Royal Int’l Football Academy to greater heights.”
✨ Rising Royal Int’l Football Academy is indeed on a mission to redefine youth football development, and with O’Skillful at the helm, the future looks promising.
