Former Gateway United FC of Ogun State coach, Abimbola Samuel has expressed his sadness over the struggles of the club in the 2018/19 Nigeria National League, season reports Completesports.com.
The former Flying Eagles assistant team coach said that Gateway United’s current situation in the league is avoidable going by the comment made by the coach of the side, Abubakar Bala when he controversially resigned last week citing lack of motivation and welfare packages as well as sabotage by the players and official of the club.
Abimbola coached the Abeokuta-based club on two occasions also added that all that Bala wasa not far from the reality in the club but called on the management and players of the club to give the seasoned gaffer maximum support to turn things around in the club.
“You see, I am a sad man right now. Sad because what is going on in Gateway United is avoidable,”Abimbola told Completesports.com.
“Gateway United I know very well, does not deserve to be where it is right now in the league if the management is sincere to themselves.”
“We all read what the coach said when he resigned and that is not untrue. I was there on two occasions before I left them in 2015 and the truth is that those things that prevailed then are still there now.
“The political issues in the club need to be handled differently. The actors in the management should be able to propel the interest of the club first and foremost at all times. Coach Bala is a seasoned gaffer.
“We all know what he did with Niger Tornadoes two seasons ago.”
“So for Gateway United to be in the relegation mud in the NNL is an indication that the problems in the club are fundamental.”
“They are managerial, if you like. I have passion for the club but you know the saying that a prophet has no honour in his home land.”
“I have firm confident in the ability of coach Bala to pull the club out of the relegation mud but he cannot do it alone. He has the players to turn things around but the management has to do the needful. You cannot be sabotaging your own club. What for?
“If you remember, when I managed the team, they were also in the red line of relegation but I pulled them through. I knew what I went through to achieve that including personal sacrifices.
“Like every other public club in the country, there are a lot of interest which is not bad but when these personal interests subjugate that of the collective interests, there will be problem.
“This is what is going on in Gateway. As I said, I am sad they are in this situation but the situation they are in is self-inflicted.”
“They should be sincere to themselves, search their conscience, tell themselves the truth and get Gateway United out of the situation.”
Gateway United FC of Abeokuta currently occupy 5th in Group B3 of the 2018/19 season. They are on bye as the second stanza of the league resumes later today (Saturday).
