Coach says Gombe United survived all odds in NPFL, including poor financing

By Peter Uwumarogie

Aliyu Zubairu, the Technical Adviser of Gombe United Football Club, on Sunday said his side suffered from poor financial motivation during the just-ended 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Zubairu spoke at the Pantami Township Stadium in Gombe after playing their final match of the league season, which they lost 0-1 to visiting Akwa United of Uyo.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his team’s survival in the league was against all odds.

NAN reports that Gombe United, in spite of the loss, survived being relegated to the lower Nigeria National League (NNL).

Zubairu said his players and members of the club’s coaching crew worked extremely hard and were determined to retain their spot in the NPFL.

The coach said their hard work and determination were in spite of not getting the deserved match bonuses that should have boosted their morale to do better.

“I think the most joyful thing is that the team is able to sustain our Premiership status, in spite of all the financial constraints that we had.

“I haven’t said this before. But the team is not motivated. Not a single bonus is paid to them.

“We started the first round picking points on the way. And it is clear here in Nigeria that once players realised they are not getting anything for winning matches, you will start seeing diminishing returns. The performance will start dropping.

“Along the line, we thank God the team is still in the Premiership,” he said.

Explaining further, Zubairu said in his three seasons of being with the club, his players only got three match bonuses.

He contended that those three bonuses could not have been enough to motivate the team.

“I can boast that we got not more than three bonuses. Can a team be motivated in such manner?

“The way we have been hearing about Gombe United was not like this before. But, all the same, we thank God.

“We also thank our supporters and the state government in spite of the lack of motivation.

”But sustaining our Premiership status was the most important,” the coach said.

He however advised the state government to support the team financially, going forward, describing such motivation as the most important.

“Without finance, there is no football.”

Meanwhile, the Akwa United coach, Deji Ayeni, on his part while speaking on the day’s match told NAN that he felt excited to have secured the maximum points.

“My team came for the win to add more value to our points.”

NAN reports that James Ajako scored the lone goal in the 30th minute of the match to help Akwa United earn the full points.

(NAN)