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I’ll quit Nasarawa after next season — Coach Dogo

dogo

Kabiru Dogo, head coach of Nasarawa United, talks about his Federation Cup target and plans to become the Super Eagles gaffer in this interview with UMAR MUHAMMED in Lafia

After losing the 2016 Federation Cup final to IfeanyiUbah, what is your next target?   

Last season is in the past now. What matters is the incoming season and by God’s grace, the team will resume fully on Monday. We will be meeting to check all the areas we are lacking so that we can know the type of players that we would need to beef up the squad. After three or four days, we will identify those that will remain with the team and know the areas we need to beef up the team. We to beef up all the departments that need beefing up towards achieving the target of getting a trophy for Nasarawa United. As a coach and for the team generally, our target is to win trophies next season, either the league or the Federation Cup. My target is to help Nasarawa United to win a trophy.

Do you think Nasarawa United have what it takes to win titles next season?

We have the team that can play outside the state and get 50 points in a season in the league. We have a team that can play and get to the final of the Federation Cup. What else do we need? We have been on the continent two times and we are hoping to go back there. If we can get a hand on either the league or Federation Cup trophy, we will automatically be playing in Africa. That is what we are planning towards now, winning a trophy in the league or the Federation Cup. It’s a matter of motivation, seriousness and discipline. After the state governor rewarded the team with land and cash for reaching the Federation Cup final, I believe that if we emerge champions, we are going to get better rewards from him. We will work harder and be more focused and disciplined. We have a team that can achieve what the state wants.

Why couldn’t your strikers break down FC IfeanyiUbah’s defence in the Federation Cup final?

That is football for you. Anybody that watched that game would know that Nasarawa United were the better team in final but unfortunately, football is sometimes very funny. You cannot predict it. We had all the chances to get our hands on the trophy unfortunately, we were not lucky that day. We lost so many scoring chances but I think it is a lesson for the whole team. IfeanyiUbah were just lucky to claim the cup, no problem about that. We will correct all the mistakes next season.

Do you think the players in your team have the quality to play in the Super Eagles?

A lot of them can play (in the national team). Some of them have played in the national team before. I believe I have a team that can represent the country. I know with time, some of them will get call-ups to the Super Eagles.

What do you think is the reason why the Nigerian league cannot compete with the European leagues at the moment?

Our league is behind because we don’t have sponsorships like the Europeans do. But with what the League Management Company is doing, I believe with time, we are going to meet up. As you can see, so many companies are coming into the league now. So many foreigners are coming into the league to play and coach as well. With time, we will reach that point. It is just a matter of time. It is a gradual process and we have to commend the LMC and the Nigeria Football Federation because if you look at the league last season, there were lots of improvements and innovation. I believe next season will be better than the last because a lot of teams are preparing well. The management, the government and the organisers too are preparing very well.

There is always mixed reactions when a Nigerian coach is given the national team job…

(Cuts in) I think that should be left to the administrators but as far as I am concerned, local coaches are still among the best. For instance, Aloy Agu is part of the present coaching crew of the Eagles. Samson Siasia and Daniel Amokachi were there before.  It is just a matter of learning more. They want us to learn more but with time, we are going to take our rightful positions in the national team. So, just give us time, we are going to be there.

Do you share the belief of some people that there are no quality players in the Super Eagles?

No. We have quality players in the league, and in the national team. Anyone saying that doesn’t know what he is saying. We need to encourage our boys more and motivate them well like their European counterparts. Victor Moses has been in great form for Chelsea this season. Is he not a Nigerian? It is just that we don’t value ourselves; we don’t know what we have. We don’t believe in what we have but with time, with the way the NFF and LMC are operating, I believe things will be alright very soon.

How can we breed players in the mould of Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi and Moses in the local league?

They are there already. It is just a matter of exposure, encouragement and good welfare packages. We have so many of them. We have players like Thomas Zenke and Shamah Tanze in our team. The big clubs like Enugu Rangers and Kano Pillars have some exciting talents too. We just need to believe in these boys.

Are you thinking of coaching the Eagles in the future?

Yes, everybody has an ambition of moving up and becoming successful in life. I believe that one day, it will be my turn to manage the team. It may not be the Super Eagles. It may be any of the other national teams. I believe that my time will come. Those that are there now were not there before. Some people were there before them.

Do you think Nigeria can qualify for the 2018 World Cup?

We are going to qualify. As you can see, we started very well, winning our first two games.

What is the club and the state government doing to ensure that the challenges they faced last season don’t resurface next season?

We have our challenges in Nasarawa United; even in the national teams, they have their challenges but we have to commend the Nasarawa State Government because we are one of the best motivated clubs. Some clubs owe players as much as 10 months’ salaries but that is not the issue with Nasarawa United. They may not pay big like Kano Pillars or Enyimba, but they have been consistent in paying the financial entitlements of the staff of the club.

During the dinner organised for the team after the Federation Cup final, the state government promised that all outstanding allowances would be paid. Have the allowances of the players been fully paid?

After that reception, we went on break. We are just returning and they promised that by the time we come back, they will pay everything; we believe because the governor has already honoured the team after their second place finish in the Federation Cup.

There are insinuations that you are planning to leave the team because of the inability of the state government to fulfill some of its promises made to you and the players. How true is this?

The issue is not that the government is not doing what it is supposed to do. I just feel like changing environment. I have spent three seasons here. This is my fourth season. So, I believe that I should move on to new challenges. But when I spoke with my family and the government, they showed me love. They showed that they still want me to spend one more season so that I can achieve the set objectives for the team. That is why I decided that with the relationship we have built and with the love they have showed me, that I should extend my contract for another season. But the incoming season will be my last at Nasarawa as far as I am concerned. I have to move on but I want to leave here with a trophy. I want to leave here with something that people will appreciate. That is why I decided to stay back.

Last season, I set a cup target but I could not achieve it, so, I want to see what I can achieve by God’s grace. For now, I am still part of Nasarawa United. The Deputy Governor, Mr. Salas Agara, has been very nice to me and the team management because anytime we meet in his office, we always discuss how the team will move forward. Nasarawa State is my second home.

How many new players are you hoping to recruit ahead of next season?

Last season, I had 35 players. This season, I will bring five or six players to improve the team. I will still maintain 90 per cent of the boys that played last season. Those available are doing well. We will continue from where we stopped last season.

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