NPFL24: New Head Coaches, Will their Tactics Yield Fruits Too?

“Patient dog eats the fattest bone,” that is what they say right. But even before the fattest bone reaches the patient dog; perseverance, endurance, tolerance and consistency are the virtues needed to be evinced by the dog.

The result and reward is always mammoth. And for these coaches who have served and have been patient to become head coaches of clubs after either serving as assistant coaches or not being in job for years, they are reaping the rewards of being forbearing now.

Previously, we looked at the title winning chances of coaches who have gathered lots of experience in the NPFL and have swapped clubs prior to the 2023/2024 season.

This time around, we look at what these freshly appointed coaches with little or no experience can bring to their team for the season. 

After 4 weeks of action, these coaches have proven themselves at the helm of affairs but can their tactics win a title at the end of the season?

Ayuba Mbwas Mangut (Plateau United) 

Mangut has been a patient coach in the Nigerian football space. He has served under different managers in his career as assistant and he has finally got his chance to lead a team.

Having spent years with Rangers serving two different coaches in Salisu Yusuf and Abdu Maikaba, Mangut has learned the ropes well from arguably two of the very good coaches in the league.

As an assistant, Mangut has gathered a lot of experience with the amount of clubs and coaches he has worked with. His team missed out of the Super 6 last season slightly but will be hoping to fight for a continental slot this season with their new gaffer. 

after 4 games this season, Mnagut has picked two wins at home and has narrowly lost in the two away games and the fans are enjoying what they are seeing their team become.

Albert Hilary scores for Plateau United via a free kick! Fantastic goal I must Confess 👏

Plateau United FC 1-0 Sunshine Stars
32mins #NPFL24

— SP⚽️RTS DUCHESS👑 (@MercyYChuwang) October 22, 2023

Tony Bolus (Katsina United)

Tony was recently the coach of NNL side Yobe Desert Stars. They missed promotion by inches last season but that was not the beginning of the road for Bolus.

The former Vandrezzer manager was with MFM FC after Fidelis Ilechukwu left the club. His two year stay with the Church Boys saw him manage 34 league matches. He however was sacked due to the team’s poor form in 2021 – the season MFM FC relegated.

After the MFM job, Bolus became Vandrezzer FC coach where he was for a year.

Katsina United have instantly risen from their ruins after they were relegated in 2022. Usman Abdallah had left the club suddenly and in came, Bolus.

With experience as an NPFL coach, his target will be to keep the Chanji Boys up in the topflight for another season or perhaps he can just sneak in the club’s first ever title at the end of the season.

4 weeks into his Katsina United career, Bolus has picked unusual points on the road for the Chanji Boys as they drew at Heartland and Sunshine Stars. Perhaps, it is truly that season a title will be celebrated in katsina.

Hamza Abara (Niger Tornadoes)

Hamza is the man of the moment in the Nigerian football space for 2023. He has changed clubs thrice in a space of 6 months. 

He first left his role as assistant coach at Plateau United to become head coach of El Kanemi Warriors in March and in September, he was named Niger Tornadoes head coach.

Abara has been around in the NPFL. He was first interim manager of Tornadoes in 2018 before joining Enyimba as assistant coach. The gaffer’s second stint with the Tornadoes will be more difficult than the first as his predecessor, Bala Mohammed ensured the club remained in the topflight for consecutive years.

Abara’s experience will be very crucial in ensuring the club retain their status this season and 4 matches, Abara’s men sit 7th position only 2 points away from the top.

Eugene Agagbe (Lobi Stars)

Giving the circumstances of his appointment, Eugene has had the most effect on a team this season in the NPFL. His Lobi Stars are the only unbeaten team and are just one point away from the top.

His impact has been instant.

After Bala Abubakar suddenly quitted as head coach after having replaced Baba Ganaru at the helm of affairs, Lobi Stars were left without a coach for the first two weeks of the season.

A consortium of coaches headed by feeder team coach Eugene Agagbe was saddled with the responsibility to get the team going. A dramatic draw in Owerri and a win against Sunshine has proven that the consortium looks productive.

Hence, Agagbe was announced as the new head coach of the team. Eugene has had no particular experience in the NPFL but he has led the Lobi Stars’ youth team to the NPFL-LaLiga U15 tournament.

Eugene has been with the club and he knows what it is to see the club succeed. Last season, they made it to the Super 6, this season with a new gaffer who is new to the league, Lobi Stars might be having a new target for the season; perhaps a lower one than last season but they have had a very terrific start to the season.

With only Fatai Osho being the only newly appointed coach yet to win a game, the other 7 managers are starting to imprint their styles and make an impact on their team. with 34 matches still to play, can the new head of affairs led their teams to glory at season end?