On Wednesday, coach Aliyu Zubairu reached a milestone of managing 100 NPFL games when Elkanemi Warriors lost to Kano Pillars by 2-1.
Coach Zubairu has handled 100 NPFL games across three teams- recording 36 wins, 28 draws, and 37 losses. He has also secured 136 points, scored 92 goals, and conceded 106 goals.
For Zubairu, reaching a century of NPFL league games as a coach is an important milestone.
“It’s very important to me and I must say my journey has also been largely successful considering all the challenges.”
Coach Aliyu Zubairu: NPFL Origins
Aliyu’s NPFL journey officially began as the Technical Adviser of Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in the 2018/2019 Abridged season.
After handling Wikki Tourists for a season, Aliyu left for Gombe United and promoted the team to NPFL.
Later, he managed Gombe United in the NPFL for two seasons(2021/2022 and 2022/2023 abridged) before joining Elkanemi Warriors.
It’s his first NPFL season as the handler of Maiduguri-based side having promoted them to NPFL last year from the NNL.
Zubairu: Mr. Stability and Father of Young Players
Despite the seemingly environmental challenges, the Ilorin-born gaffer has held on to his values of hard work, commitment, and integrity.
Known to be an ethical coach and a devoted Muslim, Aliyu nicknamed Mr. Stability for delivering stability and the best results for teams with relatively low budgets.
Apart from helping the clubs beat the drop, he is also admired for setting up a solid structure that allows the team to function effectively even in his absence. Evident of this was how Gombe United was relegated from the NPFL following his exit from the club.
Playing Philosophy and Growth
Zubairu earned the tag of advocate and father for the young players for always promoting footballers of young age and infusing them into his team, even when other NPFL coaches continue to parade older players in their teams.
The Coach promoted countless young players and made superstars, because to him “your understanding of the game is your age”.
However, reacting to the milestone, he noted that his journey has been a mixed bag of challenges and successes.
“My journey in the Premier League has not been easy. If you look at my track record, I started with the Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in an abridged league, which was difficult.”
He further said, “Being a beginner, all the doubting Thomases were thinking that starting with a team like Wikki Tourists was something huge, but Before then, I had understudied a lot of coaches, so if I couldn’t handle a team myself, certainly there’s no need for me being in a coaching arena coaching arena- But I prove many people wrong I was able to sustain the team.”
Furthermore, he noted the level of reckoning he has amassed in the league, adding that he has added value to the football ecosystem.
“All the big teams and boys in the league know that anytime they are playing against my team, they know they are meeting a strong side. So, generally i will continue to do our best for the game” he concluded.
For Aliyu Zubairu, the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, his NPFL journey is a product of consistency and commitment. He desires to make a more significant impact on the Nigeria Football ecosystem.
