2023/2024 NPFL: We are poorly funded by the government says Coach Babaganaru

Posted : 26 February 2024

The coach of the state-owned Gombe United FC, Mohammed Babaganaru, has decried his team’s poor funding, saying it could affect their chances of avoiding relegation if not addressed. Babaganaru stated this in a post-match conference in Gombe after his team secured a vital win over visiting Sporting Lagos in the 2023–2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

“Finance is our major problem and we are pleading with Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State to come to our aid.

“We will go places with financial boost. We have the quality looking at the recruitment we did.

“It (not having enough funds) will affect the team in the NPFL. There is nothing you can do without money,” he said.

Babaganaru said poor funding had remained a major challenge, which he said was not good for his team as it was affecting his players psychologically. According to him, if there is no improvement in the club’s finances, it could affect their efforts to remain in the NPFL next season.

He stated that increased funding for his club had become necessary to boost the morale of the team to fight their way through, adding that the team possessed the quality players to compete in the league.

“We had a lot of challenges; during the first round, we had financial challenges. So, the government needs to come in and help this club.

The Match Day 21 fixture, which was played at the Pantami Township Stadium, ended 2-0 in favour of Gombe United, who are currently battling relegation. On the outcome of the day’s match, Babaganaru said the match was a successful one with a good outcome for his team.

He commended his players for displaying good character and attitude that earned his team the maximum points in the game. On his part, Sporting Lagos coach Paul Offor described the match as difficult, which he partly attributed to the hot weather and the tactics adopted by the home team. Offor said, having lost the match against Gombe, his team would focus on their next match against Akwa United.

“The result is there; we are not happy about it, but we have to shift our attention to our next game, which is on Wednesday against Akwa United.

“The second round is just starting. The most important thing is that we do not allow this result to affect us or our momentum.

“So that we will go home and be able to recover to play the match on Wednesday“ he said.

Gombe United’s goals were scored by Luke Balogun and Yusuf Taiye in the 45th and 74th minutes, respectively.

2023/2024 NPFL: We are poorly funded by the government says Coach Babaganaru

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