Jigawa Golden Stars won’t suffer relegation under me- Abdul Pele

When and how did you become the Technical Adviser of Jigawa Golden Stars? I am Coach Ahmed Abdul Pele. Before I took to coaching as a career, I played for several clubs in Kano State. When I stopped playing I attended the National Institute for Sports to obtain my coaching certificates. It may interest you […]

When and how did you become the Technical Adviser of Jigawa Golden Stars?

I am Coach Ahmed Abdul Pele. Before I took to coaching as a career, I played for several clubs in Kano State. When I stopped playing I attended the National Institute for Sports to obtain my coaching certificates. It may interest you to know that I have coached Kano Pillars for over ten times. I come and go. In addition, I have coached almost all the prominent clubs in Kano State. At different times, I coached Works Golden Stars, Dantata United, Dangi Babes, Buffaloes, and Bank of the North FC. At the moment I am the Technical Adviser of Jigawa Golden Stars. I joined the team in 2008 when they were on the verge of being relegated to the amateur division. I did all I could to save them from relegation. In the following year which is the season that has just ended, I returned the club to the Premier League.

What did you do to bring the club back to the Premier League?

Well, the secret is between me and the management of the club. I did all I could to see that the management show more commitment. I emphasized discipline for the management and for the players. If everything is anchored on discipline, there is bound to be success. I gave the management my conditions and they accepted. They listened to me and we were able to get the desired promotion. In addition, I always psyched the players because they are the essential human resources. The players are me and I am the players. We work harmoniously. I made them believe in themselves. But I want to put it on record that our return to the Premier League is nothing more than discipline on the part of every one in Jigawa Golden Stars.

How much support did the club receive from the state government in its bid to return to the Premier League?

The present government is doing its best to make sure that we achieve our dream of becoming one of the best Premier League clubs in the country. But the truth is that you cannot compare the financial ability of Jigawa with other States. We appreciate this fact and we try not to raise our expectations too high.  Things are really getting better under the present governor. He is doing his best to see that we are comfortable. He may not be very popular among sports personalities, but he is a lover of sports.

Coach how are you bracing up to the challenges ahead?

Playing in the Nigerian Premier League is not a new thing to me. It is not all that difficult because I have been there before and the level is just the same. When I was in Pillars I normally recruited players and I know how I am going to recruit players for Jigawa. I want to assure everybody that I would get the best available players from the club.  I coached Pillars at different times. In 2005, when Kadiri Ikhana left the club, I took charge and I was the first coach who won the Super 8 competition for Pillars.

Is this to say you are confident Jigawa would not be relegated at the end of next season?

Yes, I assure Nigerians that Insha Allah; I will keep Jigawa in the Nigeria Premier League. I have all the experience that is required to coach any of the Nigerian Premier League clubs. Jigawa Golden Stars won’t suffer relegation under me. I will do my best to ensure that as long as I remain in charge, it will continue to play in the top division. All I need is the support from the government and management of the club.

Are you very comfortable with the quality of players in the team or are you going to bring in more players?

I want to build my team in the areas that it is lacking behind. I know the calibre of players that I need to beef up the team in key positions. I need some experienced players in positions like the defence and attack. It is important to get good finishers because you can do all the playing but if you do not have prolific goal scorers, it would amount to beautiful nonsense.

Does this mean you are going to drop some of your present players?

Already I have sacked about thirteen players, and after the ongoing Super 4, I am going to drop more players. The competition has given me the opportunity to have a better assessment of the players. I will drop more players to make way for more experienced players who will help me actualize my dreams.

You have less than two months before the new season would commence. Don’t you think bringing in so many new players would have negative effect on your team?

Like I said earlier I will go for the experienced players. Players with the requisite experience do not need too much time to blend. They only need to be guided. You tell them this is what you want from them and they do it without too much ado. We talk about blending and the rest when we are dealing with players without experience. I don’t think I will run into any problem. We would need one or two matches to strike the necessary understanding.

You have been on the scene for a long time now, what keeps you going in this era of ‘indiscriminate’ sacking of coaches by clubs?

I always exercise patience with my employers. I am not confrontational but I don’t allow any unnecessary interference. Once there is any undue encroachment, I leave. I respect other people’s positions and I always demand respect for my own position. I don’t go to tell the club accountant what he is to do and I won’t allow him to come and tell me anything about team formation and other tactics. I hate undue interference. I don’t mind if I would lose my job. An administrator cannot tell me what to do as a coach. This is not to say I don’t accept wise counsel. I listen to useful advices. Nobody owns monopoly of knowledge.

What challenges do you face as a coach in Nigeria?

One of the challenges Nigerian coaches face is lack of patience from the administrators of the game and the fans. Nigerians are not patient with their coaches. I am not saying this simply because Siasia was my boss but I think we should have given him more time to correct whatever mistakes he made. Sacking coaches indiscriminately will not take us anywhere. Now Keshi is hired but if we do not support him, he will not succeed. Amodu qualified us twice for the World Cup but he was sacked. I look at that as cheating. Our problem is that we easily forget what one has achieved before. Constant sacking of coaching denies us of the required continuity. Without continuity, we won’t succeed. Every Nigerian wants to be a coach and this is wrong.

What is your happiest moment as a coach?

Without any doubt my happiest moment came when I returned Jigawa Golden Stars to the Nigerian Premier League. Only a few people gave us the chance to return to the elite division.

And what would you say is your worst moment as a coach?

My worst moment as a coach was when we lost the finals of the 2005 FIFA World Cup in Holland to Argentina. It was my saddest day. Even Siasia came to my room to console me but I could not talk to him. For three days, I remained indoors. I was so disappointed because we played better and deserved to win the trophy.