How Amuneke Helped Me Stay On as Lobi Stars Coach Despite Frustration – Daniel Amokachi
Lobi Stars head coach, Daniel Amokachi, has revealed how his former teammate, Emmanuel Amuneke, played a crucial role in convincing him to remain in charge of the Markurdi-based club despite facing frustration over inconsistent performances earlier in the season.
Amokachi, the former Besiktas forward, admitted that after a string of disappointing results in the first half of the season, he seriously considered stepping down from his role as head coach.
“There were rumours before Christmas that Lobi Stars management had given me an ultimatum, but that’s not true. I wasn’t given any ultimatum,” Amokachi explained. “After our last game of the first round against Heartland, I was close to resigning. I was frustrated, not with the team itself, but with certain issues surrounding us.”
It was then that Amuneke, who is also a former Super Eagles teammate of Amokachi, reached out. “Emmanuel Amuneke caught wind of it and called me around midnight. We spoke for almost an hour, and his words of encouragement completely changed my mindset,” Amokachi shared.
He continued, “That’s why I’m still here today. He gave me so much hope about the league and its future, and I’m deeply grateful for that.”
Amokachi and Amuneke were both vital members of the Super Eagles during their successful campaigns at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Meanwhile, on matchday 20 of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League season, Amuneke tutored Heartland FC defeated Lobi Stars 1-0 to pile further pressure on the Amokachi led technical crew.
