Which way for Kwara United FC?

I tried for some years now to keep my distance from comments on the performances of Kwara United since my sojourn as the Team Manager, Technical Adviser and General Manager, respectively of the defunct Kwara Bombers FC of Ilorin.

However, the unenviable position the team finds itself on the league table becomes worrisome and unbecoming.

Football is a game that is meant to entertain; it is therefore, a game that is mostly for the talented, skillful, energetic, dedicated and disciplined player. It is, therefore pertinent that those that are to be involved must possess all the above qualities in order to excel.

The standards of the game these days require a great deal of patience and tolerance for one to spend about 105 minutes to watch. The level is so unbelievably low that one starts getting bored from the kick-off. Unfortunately, the situation abounds throughout the country. It is not limited to the Kwara teams alone.

My conviction on the low standards derives from the fact that for some of us, who are obliged to have physically, technically and managerially taken part in the leather game from our cradle days to national or state levels, the fact could not be too far-fetched.

As stated earlier, I commenced my football career like all kids from Baboko School in Ilorin, afterward, moved to Kano were I played for my Technical College. From 1965-1973, I played extensively for the New Nigerian Football Club in Kaduna, Kaduna XI, Northern Nigeria Football XI. During those times, I took part in the inaugural national league between 1972 and 1973, playing for NNNFC. From May, 1973, I transferred my services to Kwara State and joined the present Herald Newspapers. Henceforth, I played for several clubs in Ilorin, i.e. Morning Stars, Super Stars, Super Pioneers, the state football team to mention a few.

Several colleagues of mine have had different stories to relate on the present day foot balling and the unpalatable activities that surround it. Most times, blames for unfavourable results as it is presently prevailing in Kwara United is solely directed at the Technical Adviser/Coach or the entire technical crew altogether. The first motion is to take cognisance of the management structure of a team, then the players and how the entire structure are formed, i.e. capability, loyalty, dedication and lastly, competence on the management/technical aspects. And to the players, how talented, level of skill acquired, commitment and discipline. All these are the necessary ingredients to success.

The team – Kwara United, had very vast experience in the national league divisions that should by now be reference points to most clubs in the country. Kwara United metamorphosed from Midland Babes, Super Pioneers, Water Corporation FC, Kwara Bombers to Kwara United FC. It has been such a long journey. The tedious journey should now be ending on a fruitful and harmonious note.

The League Management Committee has always set up a standard for clubs to follow i.e. in terms of organisational structure, players' welfare, the technical capacities etc. In Kwara United, they are still being treated like newly born babies, just like all other government sponsored clubs, whereas for a viable, veritable club to succeed, it has to be a limited liability entity – which of course, the club is, presently. For, a club can only be registered professionally if it is registered with CAC as a limited company. A limited liability organisation should for all purposes be seen to run as a viable and result-oriented organisation.

It is therefore, high time we do away with incompetency and mediocrity. It is time we re-organise the so-called Supporters' Club and make them to understand the real meaning of supporting a club and stop being hangers-on for such a long time. It is time we call a spade a spade and nothing else.

Football, as is presently being organised and managed in most countries of the world is now a big business enterprise, therefore generating huge financial base for the facilitator, the managers, players and their families. Why can't we follow suit? Should it take us decades before we come to realities? No! It shouldn't be, enough is enough! Let us kill the tension and the bug that refuse to grow.

If managements – several of which as manifested, cannot be reformed due to one reason or the other, we now need to focus further. Fortunately, the AbdulFatah Ahmed government has put in place a result-oriented and purposeful organisation in place to manage its dividends in companies where it has shares – Harmony Holdings Nigeria Limited, can be contracted to temporarily manage the affairs of the club in conjunction with reputable and industrious minded technically sound indigenes.

Football is entertaining, diligent to watch, equally financially benefitting, if properly harnessed.

Now is the time to wake up from our slumber. Proactive action is required. Kwara United must not be relegated again.

Alanamu is former Team Manager/Technical Adviser of Kwara Bombers FC Limited.

#opinion