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Former Nigeria U20 Flying Eagles captain, Isaac Mbika, has exclusively told Completesports.com that Giant Brillars FC does not belong in the Nationwide League One (NLO) and that the club is working hard to return to the Nigeria National League (NNL), where he believes they rightfully belong.
Giant Brillars are one of the teams participating in the Awka City Stadium Centre of the 2025 NLO Playoffs, where four overall winning teams from different centers will gain promotion to the NNL.
On Tuesday, Giant Brillars defeated Dom Daniel FC 5-2 and are set to face Ikukuoma FC in their fourth group match on Friday, May 2, 2025.
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Mbika, who previously played for Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC before moving to Europe, is now the Sporting Director of Giant Brillars FC, a subsidiary of Shuttle Sports International.
“The NLO is not our place. We belong in the NNL, and we’re working to move out of the NLO and back to where we rightly belong,” Mbika said after the seven-goal thriller against Dom Daniel FC.
“The NLO is not ideal for us. A whole lot of things happen here, and we’re trying to stay focused on our next game against Ikukuoma FC. If we win that, we’ll go top of the group standings.”
When asked what he meant by “a whole lot of things,” Mbika recounted unpleasant experiences from their previous matches, citing poor officiating.
“In one of our earlier games, we were leading 2-1 when our defender was unjustly sent off. They later admitted the mistake, but we couldn’t meet the 24-hour deadline for a protest,” Mbika explained.
“In another match, I still don’t understand how we conceded two goals. But today, with our 5-2 win over Dom Daniel FC, we’ve shown them we know how to play this game.”
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The fair-skinned Brillars official also revealed why he chose management after his playing career.
“When I was still playing in Europe, I told myself football is a short-term career. I was asking myself—should I go into coaching or management?”
“But my retirement was fast-tracked by a knee injury. I opted for management so I could give back to the society that gave me so much.”
“Today, I have my own outfit, but I’m working with Giant Brillars, which is a big brand. Don’t forget, Giant Brillars is under Shuttle Sports.”
“Since I ventured into management, I’ve facilitated transfers of many players to Europe, including Chidiebere Nwakali, who is doing well at the moment,” Mbika concluded.
By Sab Osuji
