Good morning Everyone,
The new season steadily approaches. Teams are trimming and priming for the 2025/2026 season, and for us, as expected, we are getting ourselves ready. Last I heard, the older players have yet to resume, while those on trials are looking to give the club reasons to open the door for them.
Amidst all of this is the big question of who will be in the dugout for the team in the coming season. As it stands, the club has yet to “agree” on terms with Stanley Eguma. Eguma, as we all know, came in mid-season and replaced Coach Yema. Yema, meanwhile, has reunited with Finidi George at Rivers United.
Our Report Card Series has yet to cover the coaching crew, but the disastrous way the season ended means no serious-minded club should be looking to retain his services. There were concrete opportunities to land in the continental places when it was obvious the leading teams had established a healthy lead. Those opportunities were wasted.
The variance between Eguma’s regime and Coach Yema’s stint was clear, even to the players. The difference in team play and accountability was stark. For the players, all indications are that there hasn’t been an easy symmetry between the team and the gaffer. I’ve never been his fan, and this stems from years of watching the defunct Dolphins and Rivers United. The question, however, is: what does Enyimba want? Do we even know?
Our club has been a mess since Kanu took over. That’s no news. What is, is the legit concerns over what happens in the next few months and subsequent year/years. Someone said Kanu needs to win something to maintain the good faith of the fans. I think there’s a lot more to earning our good faith.
The problem at Enyimba isn’t just about winning things. It is about the culture, the life within the club. You cannot successfully run a football club that is distant from the community. You cannot run a club where players are unhappy to wear the club’s jersey. More on this in the days ahead. I’ve digressed.
Back to Eguma. What do you do with him? I don’t think he should—or will—return. If he does, it is because Ekwueme and Kanu cannot find someone else to supervise the mess they have set up at Enyimba. I have always flirted with the thought of Imama at Enyimba. But what would you offer him to sway him? Surely not the setup at the club right now. Moreover, he’s in the continental competition this term.
Enyimba must get it right this time, and that begins with the management. Enyimba needs a category A coach, and based on what we saw last term, Eguma isn’t in that WhatsApp group. The focus must be on modern, progressive coaches who will offer something better; a good blend of tactics and technique, served up in a good environment for the playing and coaching staff.
Also, with trials for new players currently ongoing, the coach should be part of the process. If a new coach is hired after the new intake of players, you’re going to waste another half-season shoehorning square pegs into round holes. Talk about a mess.
Success is not a miracle. It is planned and prepared for adequately.
Back tomorrow.
‘EnyimbaEnyi
