How I am transforming FC Taraba – Babangida

How did you become the Chairman/ Consultant to FC Taraba? Well, it all started with my youth empowerment programme because I am in Taraba for the State football academy. In the course of my operations, I discovered that the club was having problems. I then discussed with the governor that I wanted to return the […]

How did you become the Chairman/ Consultant to FC Taraba?

Well, it all started with my youth empowerment programme because I am in Taraba for the State football academy. In the course of my operations, I discovered that the club was having problems. I then discussed with the governor that I wanted to return the club on the right path and if I can guide the club to the Premier league, I may hand it over to the state. The governor accepted my proposal and that was how it started.

Did the governor set any targets for you?

Yeah, he did. He set one major target and subsidiaries. He asked me to go and get the management of the club moving. He also challenged me to get a Premier League ticket for the club. You know the state does not have a Premier League club and that is a concern to the sports loving governor. These are my immediate targets.

Beyond the targets set for you, how committed is the governor to the club?

The governor loves sports and he is very committed to FC Taraba. I gave him a modest bill and he did not hesitate before approving it. It is important I make this known that I asked him not to bother himself about my payment. I said if in the end, I am able to achieve the set targets and he wants to reward me with a token, then he is free to do so. For now I am doing a free job and this is what I want to do.

So far what have you done to turn around the fortunes of the club?

A lot. First of all, I tried to find out about the welfare of the players and the details about the problems being faced by the club.

When I discovered where the players were staying, it was completely unbefitting and I had to go and look for a better accommodation for the team. I got a new bus for away matches and also refurbished the playing pitch. After ensuring that the stadium meets the standard set by the NNL, I now make sure it is watered daily. Right now, we have a fully furnished office with secretariat staff. There are arrangements for a standard restaurant in the camp for a fifty-fifty payment arrangement. This is to regulate to some extent what the players eat.

It is important the players feed well. They can eat even when they do not have money and such money can be deducted from their salaries. In addition, I provided quality jerseys and training kits for the team.

Furthermore, I decided to scrap their sign-on fee because it does not make sense when players are promised so much and nothing is given to them. The players will continue to grumble and that makes them less committed to their job. I feel the most important thing is to jack up their salaries, match bonuses and allowances and make them to be regular. It is important to make them understand that the money is for those who are ready to work hard and justify the pay. With a good technical crew in place, what is left is for me to sit and watch what will happen as the league commences.

Would you say FC Taraba boasts of quality players who can take the club to the Nigeria Premier League?

Of course, for instance, I have brought about six or seven good players from some Premier League. We got four from Kaduna United, one from Enyimba, one from Sunshine. We have also recruited some quality players from some National League clubs like Ranchers, Spotlight and Gateway FC. So we have picked them on merit to add to the ones we had and with an experienced coach in Salisu Yusuf and a foreign coach from Tunisia, I think I have brought enough quality into the team. I have put in place all the essentials and as an administrator, you just sit and hope for the best.

You have mentioned some Premier League players that have joined FC Taraba. How were you able to convince them to come down to a lower division?

Most of them joined because of me. The reason is that they are banking on my exposure as ex-international player. They know I know about players’ welfare because I was also a player at the highest level.

Most of them played in clubs that they were not paid. They know that I am not in need of money and wouldn’t cheat them. They know that with my presence, many people’s eyes would be on the team and if they were in other clubs in the Premier League, maybe nobody would even look at them.