Head coach of Plateau United, Abdul Maikaba
By Raphael Ekpang
Following the recent comment credited to the Plateau United FC head coach, Abdul Makaba that if given the national Under-20 job he will resign from the club, Plateau Utd supporters club has called on the management to replace him immediately.
United’s Supporter club chairman, Shehu Umar (aka mallam Audu) told Corereporters that capable coaches exist in the state and Nigeria in general even with higher tactical abilities to replace Coach Maikaba.
Umar recalled that two years ago when Maikaba was appointed into the National U-20 coaching crew, Plateau Utd struggled to escape relegation. He said it took his intervention and others for him (Maikaba) not to have been sacked by the club, but wonders why the former Akwa United’s head coach felt he had arrived and would want to resign from the club if appointed national U-20 coach.
“Two seasons ago we (Plateau Utd) struggled to escape relegation – during that period Coach Maikaba was with the national U 20 team. I was among the people that pleaded that Maikaba should be given a second chance, following a long absence and no knowledge of team structure.
“Surprisingly, today Maikaba has made a name with plateau united and is planning to leave for greener pastures without remembering the past,” Umar said.
However, Malam Audu as he is fondly called noted that even if Maikaba resign today the club will not feel his absence nor regret it. He added that the only regret for the club would be when people like the General Manager, Pius Henwan and the technical director, Coach Ibrahim resign.
“The biggest regret would be if the hard working General manager Pius Henwan and the vibrant technical director Coach Ibrahim (Bros) decided to resign the team would be doomed because these two selfless Patriots can never be replaced,” he noted.
It would be recalled that Maikaba had granted an interview stating that he would not want to get distracted by handling two teams at a time and believed he would achieve more if he concentrated on leading Nigeria Flying Eagles through their qualifiers.