Anderson Ebimobowei West does not like being idle. That is why he has started a new football club called Active Life FC. He found a way to cast off his boredom by scouting for young football talents, and offering to coach them to standard.
In August 2025, Anderson effectively began his search for footballers in his Agudama neighbourhood of the Bayelsa State capital, and was pleased with the result. All he did was provide a leather football on an open pitch, and put a whistle between his lips.
From all around the vicinity, eager youngsters showed up to kick the ball around. Anderson readily broke them up into teams, and kicked off the first match with a blast of the whistle. Today, only a few months later, the boys are dreaming of playing in the African Nations Cup, and the World Cup many years to come.
Praise, 14, and Victor, 18, are among his squad of promising midfield maestros. Anderson West is teaching only the basics in football. He counts himself an ex-footballer, currently serving as an assistant coach with Bayelsa United Football Club.
Having received coaching training at the National Institute of Sports, Lagos, and with an advanced coaching certificate in his kitty, West is awaiting his final endorsement as a coach by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Anderson Ebimo West began clubside football experience with Calabar Rovers in 2007, before joining Enyimba FC of Aba, and later Bayelsa United. In 2009, he flew out of Nigeria and joined Maccabi Haifa in Tel Aviv, Israel. He later moved to Maccabi Achi in Nazareth, and then to Maccabi Betyam.
After three years in Israel, he pitched tent with Dontam Longman in Vietnam where he played for five years. In due course, he relocated to Myanmar where he played for five different clubs, namely Ayeyawadey Myanmar, Chin United, Rakin United, Zwekapine United, and Yangon United, Myanmar. Back in Nigeria, he returned to Bayelsa United and formally hung his boots before going into full-time coaching.
Ebimo West was also invited to the Under-20 Camp, and the Under-23 Camp under Coach Samson Siasia. He was equally invited to join home-based Super Eagles players under Coach Emodi, where he played two friendly matches.
In like manner, he was among twelve home-based players invited to the main Super Eagles camp in Faro, Portugal, under Coach Austin Eguavoen, ahead of the 2006 African Nations Cup in Egypt. He didn’t make the final list.
Anderson Ebimobowei West hails from Amatolo in Southern Ijaw local government area. He has lived in Yenagoa for the past five years. He picks the best players he can find from the streets, gives them basic football training, and arranges matches.
For agility training, he has acquired moveable obstacles of every kind. He is persuading parents to provide their children and wards under his charge with boots and jerseys to boost their morale. He is convinced that the eventual outcome can only bring pride to the families of individual players and, ultimately, glory to Bayelsa State.
