IKHANA TAKES A BOW…No more club coaching, he declares
Ikhana spoke to a coterie of journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, saying, “what is it I want to win in the local parlance again that I have not won? Is it the FA Cup or the league or the African Champions league or what? Kwara United FC is definitely my last club in […]
Ikhana spoke to a coterie of journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, saying, “what is it I want to win in the local parlance again that I have not won? Is it the FA Cup or the league or the African Champions league or what? Kwara United FC is definitely my last club in terms of coaching. I want a situation where younger coaches will be encouraged to growing confidence and that burning desire to want to achieve in coaching.”
The former Super Eagles full back in his playing days added, “I am grateful to God for all He has done for me in football coaching. I had a glorious playing era and when I entered into coaching after my military career, I have been able to meet all my heart desires including becoming a grandfather. So if I don’t leave football, football will leave me.”
Asked what will be his next port of call, he said, “definitely, I will not be returning to club coaching. I intend to concentrate on coaching development and football consultancy. Except, if you have some jobs for me to come and do. I am only leaving club coaching but not leaving football.”
He has had his share of controversy in the game. It would be recalled how resigned from his position at Kano Pillars on 27th May 2008, citing corruption in the game. He had led Kano Pillars to their first ever league title a day earlier. That year concluded his third stint with the squad, as he was their coach for their first premier league season in 1991 and saved them from relegation in 1998.
Ikhana was a member of the Green Eagles squad that won the 1980 African Cup of Nations in Lagos and represented Nigeria at the 1980 Summer Olympic Games.
After retiring from playing, he became the first coach of Maiduguri’s El-Kanemi Warriors in 1986. He is also a former coach of BCC Lions, Kwara United F.C., Sunshine Stars F.C., Sharks F.C. and Enyimba F.C., leading the latter to a CAF Champions League title. On the 1st August, 2008, he was re-hired to be the coach of Sharks F.C.
The 2008 season was a tough one. On 24th September, Ikhana was accosted by three youths at his hotel in Akure after the Sharks played at Sunshine Stars. They were later captured. On the 12th October, he went to the hospital however when he was attacked by hooligans after Sharks upset league leading Kaduna United F.C. 1-0 in Kaduna. After almost leaving Sharks after the 2009 Federation Cup final (a 1-0 loss to Enyimba), he returned for the 2009-10 season but went missing-in-action after the first eight games. He was linked to a move to Wikki Tourists F.C. He eventually moved to Niger Republic and was hired as technical consultant to the Niger Football Federation. In July 2010, he was hired by Kwara United FC spending two seasons in a row. Ikhana is retiring at 60 years of age in his birthplace, Ilorin, though, he hails from Edo State.