8 NPFL coaches in new dugouts

At the moment, it is difficult to say exactly when the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will start because on Wednesday, September 6, the NPFL board once again postponed the kickoff indefinitely It will be recalled that the league organisers first announced August 26 as kickoff date for the new season before it was […]

At the moment, it is difficult to say exactly when the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will start because on Wednesday, September 6, the NPFL board once again postponed the kickoff indefinitely

It will be recalled that the league organisers first announced August 26 as kickoff date for the new season before it was moved to September 9 and now the league body is yet to announce a new kickoff date.

However, what is certain is that anytime the 2024 NPFL season commences, eight coaches will be in charge of new clubs that have acquired their services for the season.

While some of the coaches will be debuting in their new clubs, some are having their second stint as they once handled the clubs before leaving for greener pastures elsewhere.

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Trust Sports, therefore, takes a look at the past transfers and coaching profiles of the eight Technical Advisers who have found new clubs and will be in their dugouts for the 2024 NPFL season.

Abdul Maikaba: One of the most travelled coaches in the NPFL, the Kano born football tactician has joined home club Kano Pillars from Enugu Rangers on a two-year contract.

Maikaba who kicked off his coaching career in Buffalos of Kano also coached FC Abuja and was once an assistant coach in Kano Pillars from where he moved to Enyimba FC. After serving as assistant coach, Maikaba was made Enyimba’s substantive manager in 2011 and spent five seasons in his position.

In 2016, he moved to Akwa United and led the ‘Promise Keepers’ to win their first-ever Federation Cup title in 2017. Maikaba left Akwa United in 2018 to replace Kennedy Boboye as Technical Adviser of Plateau United. After three seasons, he moved to the South-East to take charge of Enugu Rangers from 2021 to 2023.

Following a difficult season that saw the ‘Flying Antelopes’ escape relegation by the whiskers, Maikaba then journeyed back home to join Kano Pillars. He replaced Coach Evans Ogenyi who led the club back to the Nigerian topflight.

Maikaba’s immediate task is to steady wobbling Pillars and ensure that they regain their lost glory beginning with the 2024 NPFL season.

Abubakar Bala: The Niger State born gaffer is no doubt one of the youngest coaches in the NPFL. After a torrid season with his home club, Niger Tornadoes, Bala has pitched a tent with ambitious Lobi Stars of Makurdi.

The ‘Olympic Eagles’ assistant coach reportedly started his coaching career at a tender age with amateur clubs like Kiss FC, Bida Lions, Black Stars, Patrols FC Umuaka and FC Lokoja before his first professional experience in 2013 when he served as assistant to Abdullahi Biffo in Niger Tornadoes.

He later replaced Biffo as Tornadoes Technical Adviser and led the club to the finals of the 2017 Federation Cup before losing to Akwa United.

Bala, thereafter, left to join Kwara United in 2018 but returned to Tornadoes in 2019 and again led them to the Federation Cup finals which they lost to Kano Pillars on penalties.

Lobi Stars expect Bala who prefers attacking football to bring his wealth of experience to bear on his new assignment. After falling short last season, the ‘Pride of Benue’ are no doubt eager to make amends.

Mohammed Baba Ganaru: After leading Lobi Stars of Makurdi to the Championship playoff in Lagos where they underperformed to finish last on the table, the former Kano Pillars, Nasarawa United, Yobe Desert Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors coach has joined Gombe United for the new season.

Although Gombe United are perennial underachievers, the fans of the ‘Savannah Scorpions’ would expect him to re-enact his glorious days in Kano Pillars.

Fatai Osho: Another young but versatile coach in the NPFL, Osho who until recently assisted Stanley Eguma in Rivers United has switched over to Akwa United ahead of the new season.

He had managed Kogi United and Supreme Court but came to prominence when he led Remo Stars to their first promotion to the NPFL in 2018. Although Remo were relegated immediately, Osho led them back to the topflight in the following year. He, however, left when Kennedy Boboye was appointed as a technical consultant.

Fatai moved on to assist Usman Abdallah in Enyimba and took over the reins when Abdallah resigned in 2020. He led the ‘Peoples Elephants’ in the continent and later joined Rivers United from where he teamed up with Akwa United.

Fidelis Ilechukwu: The new Technical Adviser of Enugu Rangers is inarguably one of the most dramatic and energetic coaches in the NPFL. Ilechukwu announced his arrival with MFM of Lagos which he took from the Nationwide League, the National League and then the NPFL, where they represented Nigeria in the CAF Champions League.

After 13 years at MFM, the ‘working one’ as he is called left to join his home club Heartland FC. But it was tales of woes at the ‘Naze millionaires’ and so after one season, he left for greener pastures on the plateau.

Ilechukwu joined Plateau United in 2021 and led the club to the Champions league in 2022/2023 season. However, after Plateau United failed to qualify for the Super 6, he then travelled down south to take up the coaching job at Enugu Rangers.

Considering how poorly the ‘Flying Antelopes’ performed in the 2023 season, the ‘working one’ will no doubt be under pressure to change the fortunes of the seven time champions of the NPFL.

Hamza Abara: The Niger State born ‘new generation’ coach has joined his home club from relegated El-Kanemi Warriors. He had left his position as assistant coach in Plateau United to go and rescue El-Kanemi Warriors from relegation but it was a failed mission.

However, he has found love once again in Niger Tornadoes who are always available for him. It will be recalled that When Abubakar Bala left Tornadoes for Kwara United in 2018, he was the one who took charge of the ‘Ikon Allah boys’ before his brief stint at Enyimba as assistant coach.

Mbwas Magut: A former Plateau United and Enyimba player, Magut once assisted Maikaba in Plateau United and moved with him to Enugu Rangers from where he has returned home for his debut as a Technical Adviser in the NPFL. The 2024 NPFL season is therefore going to be a baptism of fire for the young coach who will be in the dugout for Plateau United.

Tony Bulus: Some may be surprised that he was appointed to lead Katsina United in the new season but Bulus is not a green horn in the NPFL.

After serving as assistant coach at Rangers in 2017, Bulus took charge at MFM following the exit of Ilechukwu. Before then, he had coached Giwa FC and Malumfashi FC.

Considering that Katsina United just returned to the NPFL, the least Bulus can do is to keep the ‘Changi boys’ in the Nigerian topflight.