Football stakeholders and followers in Kogi have called on the state government to open panel of enquiry on what led to Kogi United’s relegation to amateur league in the just concluded Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
Kogi United participated in the Group A1 of 2023 abridged NNL season along with five other clubs and ended the campaign at the basement of the log after 10 round of games with just five goals scored and 13 conceded.
Their last game was against Hypebuzz FC in Abuja where they suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat on Saturday.
It will be record third time the club will be going down to the lower division in three consecutive seasons.
Our correspondent who went through Lokoja metropolis asked football enthusiasts on their reactions to the club’s recent development.
They expressed displeasure on how the club’s management were handling the state teams asking for their resignation as against sacking the entire squad.
While some blamed the state government for not giving the teams proper attention while others asked that professional football administrators be appointed to manage the clubs.
A staunch follower of Kogi United and Confluence Queens football clubs, Abdullahi Ridwanullahi from Federal University Lokoja described the club’s latest relegation as an insult to the football loving people of the state and asked the government to ask questions from those saddled with the responsibility of managing the club.
“Are we saying that’s our standard in football?, that’s not possible, it’s a shame the club we all love to watch is going down again for the record third time under same people, the management should just quit the job since they can’t deliver, they are the one to go instead of sacking the players, I think Governor Bello should query and probe them for this embarrassment,” he said.
Mr. John Ojo from Workers’ Village who sees the team train regularly due to proximity to the Confluence Stadium opined that Kogi United players should not be in the discussion of relegation judging by how they perform in training.
“Something is missing somewhere and I don’t think its from the boys, we should be talking about how they will promote going by their trainings I see most times, I believe its more of administrative issues than technical, but it’s painful to see them relegate again.”
Ademu, a patrol attendant who spoke with our reporter at a newspaper stand around NTA Roundabout advised the State Government to give sports proper attention and also separate both Kogi United and Confluence Queens be under different management for proper monitoring and assessment.
“I know Governor Bello as a committed person, he knows what to do to get results, he should look at other states like Nasarawa, Edo and Kwara and see how they are running their state football teams and even sports. Let him sack these people now and give it to new persons who knows how to do it, this is not our standard in Kogi football.”
It will be recalled that Governor Yahaya Bello dissolved the previous management of Kogi United and Confluence Queens under former Nigerian international, Abdul Sule in February 2021 and appointed the Abdulmalik Issa Dolly led board.
Kogi United have experienced a dwindling run of forms which led to their relegations to the lower division since 2021.
Confluence Queens finished fourth in the just concluded Nigeria Women’s Football League playoffs held in Asaba, Delta State.
