Last week, Kano Pillars Football Club’s fans and management experienced both happiness and sorrow when their beloved team, Sai Masu Gida, were transported to Lagos for their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) second-round matchup against Ikorodu City Football Club of Lagos.
The government’s decision to transport the players and technical staff to Lagos for apparent reasons was the pleasant or joyous part of the situation.
Government-affiliated sources said that the team’s priority plane travel was intended to improve comfort and preparedness of the team during their distant away matches.
In the same vein, the team’s chairman, Ali Na yara Mai Samba, was cited saying that the gesture aligned with the objectives of Kano State Governor, His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf, who has consistently offered the team his unwavering support.
It is also a fact that transporting the squad to distant games would undoubtedly increase the players’ fervor, perseverance, comfort, and readiness for any team.
The gesture undoubtedly marked a significant step toward improving the welfare and morale of the officials and players, which will guarantee their peak performance and preparedness for a successful outcome in both home and away games.
More so, flying the team to their far-off matches will also benefit the players, officials, and the team entirely in a number of ways. That is why for majority of us, it is a respectable and admirable gesture.
We believe that the act of flying the team out is a kind of encouragement that will motivate them to give their best effort, which will ultimately result in getting a positive result.
And for sure, Abba Kabir Yusuf, the governor of Kano state, and Mustapha Kwankwaso, his commissioner of sports, were undoubtedly deserving of praise for this enormous and wonderful stride.
However, our dismay came to the surface when it came to the choice of those to follow or go with the team. As I was reliably informed that only the coaches and players made the air trip out of state, but the officials or management were excluded.
To be honest, I find that arrangement unsettling because the club’s management team members are essential to the team and should be made or able to enjoy all the perks and gestures with the players and coaches together.
In this type of situation, there should not be discrimination of those to go and those to stay. This is because during their previous away trips, the club’s management, along with the players and coaches experienced and suffered from the poor state of our roads.
Therefore, in my opinion, the management team ought to share in the alleviation when it comes.
I am also very sure that the government is undoubtedly aware of the immense suffering that the management endured during the first round when their aging and worn-out vehicles broke down in the middle of their ways to their away matches or on their way home.
I am sure the scenario won’t go down well with the team’s members of the management. That is why I perceive it as a morale killer.
Similarly, the government needs to know that the club officials play a crucial role as an advance party in the professional football league before the team arrives at the venue of the match.
Their main duty is to make sure that the team, officials, and supporters have a successful and flawless experience.
They are there to make sure the team has a smooth and respectable stay in the host state because they have a lot of things to worry about before, during, and after games.
Pre-Match Preparations: Before the match, the club officials scout the venue, inspecting the pitch, dressing rooms, and other facilities to ensure they meet the required standards. They also verify the availability of necessary equipment, such as goalposts, balls, and first aid kits etc.
Logistical Arrangements: As an advance party, the officials arrange for the team’s transportation, accommodation, and meals. They also coordinate with local authorities, stadium management, and security personnel to ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone involved.
Match day Operations: On match day, club officials oversee the setup of the team’s dressing room, manage the distribution of match day materials, and ensure that all necessary documentations are in order. They also liaise between the team, referees, and other officials, helping to resolve any issues that may arise.
Representative of the Club: As an advance party, the officials are in charge of advancing the team’s goals and upholding its good name as representatives of the club. Before the team arrives, they might also interact with the local press, sponsors, and supporters to create anticipation and cultivate connections.
In conclusion, by managing operational, logistical, and representational duties prior to the team’s arrival at the stadium or the host team’s state, club officials significantly contribute to the success of their team’s matches.
Therefore, it is not a smart idea to leave the officials behind or to exclude them from the air travel given the aforementioned massive tasks.
Because of their importance to the team, I am begging Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Hon. Mustapha Kwankwaso to permit all members of the management team and even some fans to enjoy this sort of generosity whenever it happens again.
I also want to recommend that the government carefully examine the team’s budget for the remaining games in the second round, approve it, and then release it in bulk to the board so that Kano Pillars can strategies and work for the progress of the team.
In my opinion, the current approach of bits or installment payment for the team’s preparation for their home and away games cannot guarantee the desired result.
Every serious football team needs a well-planned budget because it guarantees financial stability, permits strategic player acquisition, promotes infrastructure development, aids feeder teams and junior teams, and, in the end, gives the team a competitive edge by giving them the tools they need to succeed on the field.
In order to focus on how to advance the club, it is standard practice across the country for the management to have all of their money complete before the league season starts.