BY KINGSLEY OYERO.

There are hundreds of players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), but it’s rare to find those that have successfully combined it with education.

It’s even uncommon – playing for one of the best teams in Nigeria (Plateau United) and pursuing one of University of Port-Harcourt’s most difficult academic programs – Environmental Management and Technology (M.Sc).

But in his distinct way, former MFM and Plateau United striker, Matthew Chibudom has managed to do it successfully.

The Environmental Technology graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri was part of the Sunshine team that finished sixth last season in the NPFL – with the Akure-based side finishing with the fifth best attack after scoring 44 goals.

His contributions for Sunshine Stars saw him team up with Kennedy Boboye’s Plateau United at the beginning of the season and he featured 4 times as the Peace Boys ended the first Stanza in first position.

However, the former TEAP FC number 9 was released by Plateau United at the end of the first stanza and he’s now a free agent, but he’s not daunted by the setback and sees it as a wake-up call.

“It’s tough to balance everything. You have to know what to prioritize, and what to sacrifice.

“Combining education and football was a very difficult task for me because sometimes after training in the morning, I have to still go for lectures when am supposed to rest, but I have no regrets.

“I know I would bounce back and I have been getting some offers from some NPFL clubs, but am trying to study the offers, before making my next move,” Chibudom stated.

Chibudom is nicknamed the “Football Engineer” because of his ability to combine professional football with education and feels “Combining education with football will help mould any future star to the right path of his or her career and the ‘book’ is an important aspect of life that will help compliment the efforts of the ‘boot’.”

·         Matthew reveals secret to Plateau United success

Discipline, teamwork, hard work, payment of salaries and match bonuses promptly are just some of the secrets behind Plateau United’s success story this season, according to former MFM and Plateau United striker, Matthew Chibudom.

Chibudom, who joined Plateau United from Sunshine Stars at the beginning of the season stated: “The secret of the team is discipline, teamwork, hard work and payment of salaries and match bonuses promptly.

“The government and good people of Plateau are solidly behind the team and they turn out en-mass to support their darling team on match days at the Rang Pam Stadium in Jos. The stadium is always sold out.

The former TEAP FC  Number 9 also claims that boss Kennedy Boboye’s greatest armoury is his leadership qualities, winning mentality and his ability to simplify instructions down to the most basic and succinct form.

“Before the start of the ongoing season, the Technical Adviser, Kennedy Boboye said we should agree that we have to start very well and in order to do so, we have to set a target for ourselves that for every five matches, we need 15 points and if we have 13 points, that will be a good one and that is what have propelling the team at the top.

He added: “The Technical Adviser and the coaching crew are very jovial.  The Technical Adviser even joins the players in training sessions and also encourages us. He even joined us to play in training sessions, leads by example and breaks down his tactics to the most basic.”

PROFILE

NAME: Matthew Chibudom

POSITION: Striker

PLAYING EXPERIENCE:

• Port-Harcourt City Academy                                                          (2000-2005)

• Stars Football Club Port-Harcourt                                                  (2005-2007)

• Mc-Jeff Soccer Academy Port-Harcourt                                         (2008-2013)

• Teap Football Club Abuja (Pro Division Nigeria)                         (2014-2015)

• MFM Football Club Lagos  (Pro Division Nigeria)  (2015-2016)

• Sunshine Stars Football Club Akure (Premier Division Nigeria)  (2016)

• Plateau United Football Club, Jos (Premier Division Nigeria) (2017)

ACHIEVEMENTS:

Plateau State F.A Cup Winners with Plateau United Football Club              2017

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION:

• Tech in Environmental Technology – Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
• Sc in Environmental Management-University of Port Harcourt.