Sack Kogi United Management, disband team now – Fans beg Gov. Bello

Fans of Kogi State Government-owned football club, Kogi United have called for the sack of the entire management team led by Abdulmalik Isah following their home defeat against relegated NAF Rocket in the ongoing 2021-2022 Nigeria National League, (NNL).

According to reports, Kogi United on Thursday suffered a shocking 1:0 home defeat against NAF rocket in the week 20 of the Nigeria National League game held on Thursday at the Confluence Stadium Lokoja.

Expressing their displeasure over the poor performance of Kogi United, some fans who reacted to the outcome of the game which now saw the home team sitting in the relegation zone, said the Abdulmalik Isah led Kogi United had brought nothing but failure to the team in the last two years.

The fans while reacting bitterly to the present state of Kogi United, recalled that in 2021 under the same Abdulmalik Isah-led management, Kogi United were relegated to lower division league, but they later bought a slot with over N10million naira to play the current season of NNL.

They, however, appealed to Governor Bello, to as a matter of urgency disband, sack the entire management team led by Abdulmalik Isah, and channel the money to other sports that have been winning laurels for Kogi State.

Expressing his reservation about the performance of Kogi United in a WhatsApp platform ‘Kogi Sports Progressive’ Timothy Emmanuel a Kogi United fan since 1995 wrote, “This is one of the most un-serious football clubs I have ever seen. The so-called management of this football club are even worse than Kogi State itself. They are clueless and daft in football management”.

Another football enthusiast, Gbenga Adeleye said, “Slot buying Kogi United arrested by NAF Rocket. Nonsense, una no like truth that’s why the team will remain where it is. Big shame, pampering fail.

“Generally in Kogi we are too tribal sentiment, that is why we are not progressing in some quarters. We will continue to remain where we are if we don’t think deep and channel a way to progress”.

A coach who didn’t want his name to be mentioned also said, “How long will the State continue to buy slot? Give the money to other sports that are serious”.

Some of the players who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity said this is the worst management in the history of Kogi United.

“Can you imagine that our welfare is not being taken care of by this management? We have been suffering and smiling. Since the last management handed over to Abdulmalik Isah-led team, we have not been given new Jerseys. We have been doing wash and wear.

“Recently, players contributed money to buy training kits for themselves because the one they all have is no longer good to wear. Observe our Coach Foley, he too has one jersey. If this man (Andulmalik Isah) knows that he has nothing to offer in Kogi United, he should just leave honourably rather than kill the club completely.

“For us, we are fed up. Is it possible for you to give your best to a club when you are collecting peanut and feeding from hands to mouth. Kogi United players are not the only ones complaining. The poor treatment we are getting here is the same thing applicable to our sister club Confluence Queen. What a shame,” they lamented.

Reacting to calls for the disbandment and sack of the entire management team, the media officer of Kogi United Football Club, Godwin Wambebe said the present management had tried their best to see that the team qualified for top football in Nigeria.

“A lot has been said about the fate of our dear Football Club, Kogi United FC today, especially after today’s disappointing loss to already relegated NAF FC of Abuja at the Confluence Stadium.

“Some passionate individuals here and in other platforms have put across words of encouragement to lift the spirit of the team, while some have outrightly poured tantrums and insults on both the management and the players of the team, which is absolutely uncalled for.

“Some even went as far as saying Government should divert the fund being expended on Kogi United to other sports so that these sports can thrive and bring laurels to the State.

“There has never been anytime that football as a game has blocked or impeded the progress of other sports in Kogi State or prevented other sports from going to National Sports festivals and other championships.”

Not satisfied with the reaction of his media officer, the embattled Chairman of Kogi United, Abdulmalik Isah, however, wrote on the same WhatsApp group ‘Kogi Sports Progressive’, “As a leader you are bound to hear so many insults and you have to bear it hence my Boss knows my worth and the challenges we are facing. Then all this talk is baseless. Please let us come together as a brother to find way forward to our darling team and stop all this baseless noise”. (Sic)

With two matches to the end of the current 2021-2022 NNL season, Kogi United will play their next game away from home against Malumfashi FC of Katsina State.