Fatawu Dauda set to produce great goalkeepers as he joins Right To Dream Academy
Former Black Stars goalkeeper, Fatawu Dauda, has set himself an ambitious target to become a world-acclaimed goalkeeper's trainer in the near future.
“I want to become one of the best goalkeeper's trainers worldwide and I want to get the UEFA licence for goalkeepers as well,” he told Graphic Sports in an exclusive interview last week.
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For 37-year-old Dauda, that historic journey began with a five-month internship at the famous Right To Dream Academy (RTD) Academy based at Old Akrade in the Eastern Region. Today, Dauda, a.k.a Lion, can boast a fully-fledged goalkeepers’ trainer license following his engagement as permanent staff at the elite academy about a month ago.
“I joined the academy this year - about five months ago. I used to go for an internship with my Black Stars teammate Derek Boateng and I spoke to the authorities that I wanted to join them and they agreed.
“Derek spoke with Mas-Ud Didi Dramani about it and he agreed because he thought it’s part of the development of the country,” the former Ashantigold, Orlando Pirates, and Enyimba shot-stopper revealed in an exclusive interview with Graphic Sports.
“I used to go to the academy on Mondays and then come back to Accra on Wednesdays. They gave me a place to sleep and also gave me food to eat.
“So they later said they would work with me and I also agreed. So I give a big thanks to God, Derek (Boateng), and Didi Dramani,” he acknowledged.
Dauda, who had a memorable FIFA World Cup experience in Brazil in 2014 with two caps against eventual champions, Germany, and Portugal, relished his new role which offered him an opportunity to impart his knowledge to the young ones.
“I'm part of the goalkeeping department as a goalkeeper’s trainer. We have three trainers: one is with the IA, which is the senior team (Under-18), the other one is with the Under-15 and I'm with the under 11,12, and 13.
“I now know that goalkeeping is more than pick and catch. There's a lot involved and I need to work hand-in-hand with the head coaches of each group, so I've learned a lot,” he noted.
“I have a goalkeepers trainers license now and I’m currently doing my CAF Licence C course at Prampram,” he disclosed further.
He expressed the hope to use his role in RTD as a conveyor belt through which many goalkeepers would blossom into various national teams.
The man with four Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) outings under his belt said his passion was to train young goalkeepers to become world greats.
“I want to develop many goalkeepers to become great in the world. I've seen some potential already because I remember when the (FCN) FC Nordjsaelland U-18 team came to Ghana last week, we worked together because we were in the same organisation,” he disclosed.
According to him, he currently had three goalkeepers under his tutelage and was impressed with the rate at which they had been adapting to the various drills.
“All the boys are doing well with our technique. I have two goalkeepers in under 11 and under 12 and one is in the under 13 side, so I have three goalkeepers in all and they are all doing well,” he said.
He stated that since it is the dream of every footballer to reach the top, his highest motivation was to produce top-quality goalkeepers who could compete at the highest level.
“I've been to four AFCONs and one World Cup. It's good to play in the World Cup and it was a great achievement for me to be at the World Cup.
“I had a chance to play with Germany and Portugal and I was prepared for that challenge. I first went to the AFCON in 2008 when Ghana hosted it. I was also at AFCON 2013 and AFCON 2015 when we came second, and AFCON 2017 when we finished fourth,” he added.
He, however, believed that the Black Stars had some good players who could go far in the upcoming Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
