Zubair Aliyu, the coach of Gombe United, has expressed his disappointment regarding the lack of funds available to support his team’s performance in the regular season of the 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Following their recent 1-0 defeat to Akwa United at the Pantami stadium on the final day of the regular season, Aliyu stated that his side’s lack of financial motivation had hampered their overall performance.
“I haven’t said this before, but this team is not motivated. Not a single bonus has been paid to them,” Aliyu said.
He went on to explain that while the team had managed to pick up some points in the first round of matches, their performance had since experienced diminishing returns due to the lack of financial incentives.
“When players realise they are not being compensated for winning matches, their performance levels begin to drop. Despite this, we thank God the team is still in the NPFL,” Aliyu continued.
According to him, the team had only received three bonuses in his three seasons as coach, which was insufficient to motivate and retain players.
Aliyu concluded by calling on the government to provide financial support to the team, emphasizing that this was critical to the success of the club.
“Without finance, no football. We urge the government to support the team financially,” he said.
In conclusion, it is clear that financial incentives are a vital aspect of ensuring the motivation and performance of football players. It is hoped that Gombe United will receive the necessary financial support to improve their performance and compete with other clubs in the NPFL.
