Coach Mangut and Mabo thriving away from home

The saying that a prophet has no honour in his hometown has found expression in the outstanding performances of two coaches in the ongoing Nigeria professional football league season. Coach Mbwas Mangut and Najib Mabo were both undervalued in Jos, but having found love far away from home, they are thriving to the utmost surprise […]

The saying that a prophet has no honour in his hometown has found expression in the outstanding performances of two coaches in the ongoing Nigeria professional football league season. Coach Mbwas Mangut and Najib Mabo were both undervalued in Jos, but having found love far away from home, they are thriving to the utmost surprise of those who once undermined their coaching abilities.

Before the start of the current season, Plateau United, who finished in a decent position on the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table, shockingly parted ways with their homegrown coach, Mbwas Mangut.

The former NPFL winners finished the 2024/2025 season in seventh with 54 points, having won 16, drawn nine, and lost 13 out of 38 matches. Although United had their challenges, Mangut ensured they had nothing to do with relegation, especially in the closing stages when clubs were battling desperately to keep their places in the topflight.

However, still feeling dissatisfied, the management of the club decided his performance wasn’t good enough. In what was seen by some people as a “fresh era shakeup,” Mangut was sacked in June 2025. But before then, there was a build-up to the decision, which I believe the club is regretting considering the underwhelming performances of the club under a coach.

In February 2025, Mangut was handed a three-match ultimatum following a string of poor results. He successfully survived this by lifting the team from 16th to 11th place. The club eventually finished among the top 10 clubs, yet rumours that the coach would be sacked persisted, and he was eventually fired.

On June 28, the club officially announced the former coach of Ikorodu City, Shola Adegun, as their new Technical Adviser. Mangut then moved on to join regional rivals, Nasarawa United, where he is flourishing.

The other Plateau born coach Najib, the son of the legendary Ismaila Mabo of Mighty Jets and the Green Eagles, left Mighty Jets for Doma United. Unlike Mangut, he wasn’t sacked but had to leave due to “personal reasons.”

Those who have followed the history of Mighty Jets know that it is extremely difficult for a coach to last long in the club. The atmosphere in the club is always tense. Najib’s predecessor Aminu Musa had left the club under similar circumstances. Therefore, it won’t be wrong to say the toxic environment forced the young Mabo to leave the crisis-laden club.

Now, both coaches are excelling in their new clubs, a development that has made many to doubt if they were the problems of their former clubs. As a matter of fact, while Plateau United are already neck-deep in relegation, Mangut’s new club, Nasarawa United were top of the table until this week when they were dethroned by Rivers United. However, the “Solid Miners” are still strong title contenders.

Under the same coach who was rejected at home, Nasarawa United have won nine, drawn four and lost only four matches while Plateau United playing under a preferred coach have managed only six wins, one draw and lost 10 matches. They are already candidates for relegation, while Mangut’s Nasarawa United are firmly in the race for a first-ever NPFL title.

Similarly, Mabo, who pitched his tent with Doma United from Mighty Jets, is leading the Nigeria National League (NNL) Conference C where former NPFL champions Lobi Stars are also camped. Mabo who has built a strong reputation as a sound young tactician during his time in Jos has led Doma United to four wins and one draw in five matches, putting them in a prime position for a return to the NPFL. The “Savannah Tigers” are the only side that is yet to taste defeat in the group.

Meanwhile, Mabo’s former club Mighty Jets are presently occupying the last position on the table. In five matches, they have won only one and lost four matches, which has left them in a precarious situation and high chances of dropping to the lower division at the end of the season.

What is even more interesting is that both coaches have already recorded memorable visits to Jos. As if to take back his pound of flesh from his former employers, Mabo came to Jos and picked a valuable victory against Mighty Jets. It was an emotional moment for him because the Mabo family is synonymous with Jets. However, as a professional, he came, did his job, and left in a blaze of glory.

Interestingly, a few weeks after the triumphant return of Mabo to Jos, Mangut also returned to City with Nasarawa United to add more salt to Plateau United’s injuries. His team forced the home side to a 0-0 draw at the New Jos Township Stadium. No doubt, it was a memorable moment for the coach who used the opportunity to prove to his former employers that they made a mistake by asking him to leave.

What has played out between these Jos clubs and the coaches is worthy of mention because it has once again exposed how Nigerian club chairmen are in the bad habit of using their coaches as scapegoats. Even when they contribute substantially to the failure of their clubs, the chairmen put the whole blame on the technical crew.

It is an open secret that players in the Nigerian league are poorly motivated. I keep saying that what we practise in Nigeria is a glorified amateur league because there are hardly any traces of professionalism in the clubs. Sadly, when the desired results are not coming, coaches are quickly thrown under the bus without any recourse to contractual agreements, but those who refuse to pay salaries and match bonuses continue to smile to the banks.

Today, Mangut and Mabo have proved clearly that their former employers were responsible for the decline in the fortunes of the clubs. If the same coaches who were considered as “failures” are now contending for titles elsewhere, they deserve sincere apologies from those who undermined their technical prowess.

Furthermore, the successes recorded so far by the two coaches should encourage their colleagues who are presently facing similar treatment at home to be courageous enough to leave their comfort zones. Today, Mangut and Mabo have not only proved their technical capabilities away from home, they have also enhanced their market value. I won’t be surprised if Plateau United and Mighty Jets decide to recall them on a rescue mission. Yes, both clubs are in danger of relegation.

Indeed, the decision by the clubs to part ways with the two young indigenous coaches has backfired. The two clubs opted for new coaches who have not shown in any way that they are technically better than their predecessors. Indeed, Mangut and Mabo are already having the last laugh on Plateau United and Mighty Jets. Maybe, one day, the rejected stones would become the chief cornerstones.