Ogun State Coach Yara Passes On

A prominent Ogun State-born football coach, Ayoola Ayanleye Olusegun, who was fondly known as Coach Yara has passed on.

Born of humble and highly religious Ijebu-Ode muslim parents, his education started at Baptist Day School, Kaduna from 1951-1957, after which he relocated to Ijebu-Ode where he continued from 1958-1962 at Ijebu-Ode Secondary Commercial College and obtained the Secondary School Certificate.

In 1978, Coach Yara, as he is fondly called, left the shores of Nigeria and proceeded to the Hungarian College of Physical Education, Budapest. Before his departure, he had obtained a Diploma in Coaching and the International Trainer’s Licence. Other sports certificates obtained by him include the FIFA Coaching Course Professional Certificate and the International Olympic Committee Certificate, respectively in 1985 and 1995. This lover of artistic football and ardent supporter of Manchester United Football Club of England had previously obtained the Preliminary Coaching Certificate and the Advanced Football Coaching Certificate in 1970 and 1971, respectively.

A member of the Ogun State Football Association Board between 2001 and 2003, he was Secretary, Ogun State Sports Council Management Technical Committee (1991-1998), Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, Zone 1 (Lagos, Ogun and Oyo) Technical Committee (1992-1998), Assistant Director of Sports (1996-1998) and Deputy Director of Sports (1998-2000) after which he voluntarily retired for government service.

Some of the numerous merit awards Baba Yara was decorated with include Ogun State Football Association Award (1981), Ogun State Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) Award (1996), Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Zone 1 Headquarters Award (1998) and the Ogun State Sports Council Award (2001).