Few days ago, the management of Kano Pillars Football Club unveiled Usman Abdallah as their new Technical Adviser after signing a two-year contract deal with the option of an additional year.
Abdalla, a well experienced football tactician had won the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, title with Enyimba FC of Aba in 2019.
He was the former Super Eagles assistant coach who also assisted Katsina United to secure promotion to the NPFL two seasons ago.
Abdallah, who holds a UEFA A License, was said to have resumed full training with the team at the team’s training ground.
But even though the deal is yet to be disclosed, I find it necessary to put my hands on the keyboard to give a few pieces of advice that will help the entire team to achieve its goals.
First of all, I would like the management to respect themselves by doing what is needed of them, as the era of intruding into the coach’s activities is gone.
Before the start of the season, the management is to set the objectives for the season at an individual and collective level of the team.
To do this, it is vital to be realistic with the conditions of each of their players, their level of performance, and their ability to progress.
Similarly, it is necessary to be optimistic; above all it is imperative to be realistic and to plan with achievable goals to avoid feelings of frustration for the players and their fans.
The management role should be supported by other team staff for smooth functioning and to help during the analysis and monitoring of speed, intensity, and plays made, among other things.
In addition, the management must be concerned with issues such as the club’s model, knowing the profiles that would fit with the rest of the team, or dealing with sports agents, player transfers, and budgeting.
These are areas (sports agents, player transfers) where the club is paying and losing heavily but gets nothing because of their shoddy deals.
Henceforth, I want the new management to stop signing a year contract with any player from agents. Instead they should make it two or more. This will help Kano Pillars get something in monetary terms anytime the player is moving out of the club.
Another thing the management must do is the formation of a strong Technical Committee that will comprise some of its members and others from outside the management. And those to be co-opted should be people of integrity who are tearless and also very experienced in the field.
I thank Allah (SWT) and also happy for the new management that the state is full of those people who will do this job perfectly for the team and the state at large.
The technical committee should be working hand in hand with the new TA. They are to scrutinize all his submissions, programs and team lists before any match. In doing this, they check all his excesses, his rights and his wrongs.
The TA must know that the Technical Committee works on behalf of the Club to help develop and oversee technical playing standards and coaching development within the Club.
As I stated above, the committee should have some of the club’s board members as well as some external advisors which may be recommended by the chairman and appointed by the Board of Members, and serve for a specific period.
The Scope and Responsibility of the Technical Committee should be: working with the Technical Adviser to establish Club standards of play for the team and all other under-under teams of the club; working with the Technical Adviser to establish the objectives and expected standards for the team; working with the Technical Adviser on the establishment and implementation of a Club coaching development and training program and providing leadership in the recruitment of appropriate coaches for all under-under teams of the club.
They should be reviewing recommendations from the Technical Adviser for new or enhanced programs, and make recommendations to the Board for approvals.
The technical committee also seeks input from the Technical Adviser and other staff and coaches before responding to the Board, they also review and make recommendations to the Board regarding external programs and opportunities for players and coaches.
The Technical Committee shall meet more frequently if required and shall provide a written report to the next Management Board meeting.
And for the new TA, he should know that he is there to facilitate players’ learning, development and performance. It is through him that his players are able to find their own solutions, develop their own skills and change their own behaviors and attitudes.
Abdallah needs to know that as a coach his job is to inspire and motivate Kano Pillars to do their best and push them to succeed.
He must know that coaching a team like Kano Pillars is a big responsibility because it is a big team not only in the North but in the whole country.
He must look at the team as well as the season before him and realize the quality of what he met and who and who to bring to fortify the team and be a team to beat. Abdalla must know that the outcome of all of his hard work is amazing at the finish.
As a leader or the manager, his job is to better his players on and off of the field. This is done by developing the character of his players through encouragement and helping them understand that the game is more than just about winning.
A good coach will always put the needs of his players first before he considers himself as a factor; this is because if the coach is successful his players will develop a strong sense of self-motivation.
I was told that Coach Abdalla is a warm hearted good person who wants nothing but the best for his players who are playing for him.
Abdallah should understand that being humble goes a long way and once he becomes humble and remains humble then good things must surely come his way.
He should know that his range of responsibilities in the club is very wide since he is the one who is in daily contact with the players and is ultimately responsible for the performance and results of the team.
The new TA must know that he must be respectful, must ensure order, discipline and fairness in the team. He should be very open and up-front very early in their relationships with his players as to the team rules and consequences for violating them.
Abdalla must also be taken into account: The period in which the club finds itself: pre-season, competition, holiday period, etc; the type of team and the category in which it is going to play; the time available, both in terms of schedule and months; the economic, technical, and human resources that the club possesses.
As for the players, they must know and recognize that their main priority is to cooperate and produce positive vibes and to play the role for the team to succeed.
They should respect their coach’s decisions, even if they don’t always agree with them, and recognize the value of their coach’s insights and expertise.
Sometimes the coach is going to do something the players don’t agree with. Maybe he’ll take a timeout at an unfortunate time.
Regardless of what happens on or off the court, the TA deserves respect. Because he is your elder(s), so it’s just the polite thing to do.
The players must know that the TA has them in his mind. The TA wants to see his players succeed. Whether that translates into wins or losses may not be controllable, but a coach doesn’t want his players to fail.
The players must understand that the TA puts in a lot of work that is usually not paid for. He is only sacrificing a lot of time to help them become or play better.
The fact that it is the players who execute on the field, but it is also a fact that coaches put in a lot of sweat, tears and hard work getting there too. They deserve to be treated as such.
As for the fans, I expect the new TA to be friendly with the club’s fans club. This is because they are also important to the club as well.
Naturally, the new TA should know that fans are people of emotions, but we all know that we are not subjected to emotions when it comes to executing the essentials on the pitch. It is mostly of sense and mind, rather than feelings and heart. Fans’ expectations towards players are mostly high.
Coach Abdalla should know that the fans expect similar things, but in a different dimension. They want to watch their darling team playing well and also winning. They don’t compromise.
I hope the coach has since detached himself from his age long slang “aji dadi” meaning that, it doesn’t matter if he wins or loses, just play well and enjoy the game. This will not work in Kano Pillars because it is the winning the fans want.
Coach Abdalla should know that the fans are always there and are always the backbone of the club. They have their own values, which they consider to be unique to the club.
They hold on to those values and defend them, sometimes even going against the boards, the coach or one another.
As for the media team, the new TA needs to work with them to project the team to the fullest. I am happy that there are media experts in the club’s management board.
The TA should explore the very best of them because they are Media relations specialists who specialize in building and maintaining relationships with media outlets to project the team as their primary task is to secure publicity for their club and to ensure that it receives positive coverage.
I wish him a fruitful tenure with Kano Pillars FC.