Nigerian Football

Plateau United’s Matthew Chibudom: The NPFL’s Football Engineer

Published

7 years ago

July 11, 2017

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.

Nigerian Football

Nigerian women coaches conclude first module of CAF C-License course

Published

5 days ago

July 22, 2024

Kunle Solaja

NFF President Gusau and GS Sanusi with NFF Management and the coach educators and participants at the commencement of the course on Monday last week.

A total of 30 women coaches have concluded the first of a three-module CAF C-License program in the Federal Capital, Abuja and are expected to commence a two-week internship with different teams in a few days.

Peopled largely by former Nigerian internationals and other serving coaches, the group was taken through a full week of rigorous classroom and practical sessions by a team of coach educators and resource persons, in a baptism of what the next two modules are likely to entail,

NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, told thenff.com that the first module has shown that the women coaches are actually desirous of learning.

“I am very much impressed with their attitude, mannerisms and conduct through the first module. They impressed everyone, and the coach educators also told me they were impressed, and are looking forward to having them back for the second and concluding modules.

“We are grateful for the leadership of the NFF for the support and encouragement for coach-education programmes all the time.”

The participants will return to Abuja for the second module that is scheduled for 12^th – 20^th August, after which they will go on another two-week internship, 23^rd August – 4^th September. The third module, which comes with examinations for the participants, will take place 9^th – 19^th September.

Dr. Terry Babatunde Eguaoje, NFF’s Head of Education, is among the coach educators’ team, which also includes Coaches Isah Ladan Bosso, Wemimo Olanrewaju and Lanrence Ndaks.

Among the 30 participants are former Super Falcons’ stars Precious Dede, Joy Jegede, Esther Michael, Maureen Eke, Otas Ogbonmwan, Vera Okolo, Cecilia Nku, Taiwo Ajobiewe, Gloria Ofoegbu and Amenze Aighewi. There are also Barr. Victoria Nlemigbo and retired FIFA referee Folusho Ajayi.

Nigerian Football

Osimhen’s outburst was a moment of madness, says Amaju

Published

1 week ago

July 17, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President and a FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has expressed shock at last month’s outburst by Super Eagles’ striker, Victor Osimhen against Finidi George.

“It is very unfortunate”, Amaju Pinnick remarked on an Arise Television programme. The former NFF president said he had put a call to Osimhen who was very remorseful while the telephone conversation lasted.

“I told him he has to apologise, and I am sure he will if he has not yet done so.” Amaju remarked that he could not comprehend what went wrong as Osimhen was the most cool-headed player in the national team.

He went on to remark that Finidi George was not a personality to be disregarded like that. He has won virtually every honour available during his playing days and was a member of the Super Eagles at their peak when Nigeria ranked fifth in the world.

“I believe players should learn to respect their coaches”, said the former NFF boss.

Nigerian Football

I prefer a foreign coach for the Super Eagles, says Amaju

Published

1 week ago

July 17, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Nigeria’s FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has told the world that he has always been an advocate of foreign coaches for the Super Eagles. He spoke on Arise Television while fielding questions with Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni and Ayo Mairo-Ese.

His reason for being averse to indigenous coaches stemmed from lack of respect for them by the players.

“Yes, the Nigerian coaches have the requisite knowledge and the technical ability, but modern football is beyond that in managing players.

“Will the national team players respect the coach? The sad thing is that they don’t”, said Amaju Pinnick.

He however revealed that he supported the appointment of Finidi George owing to the circumstances that the NFF found itself after the exit of Jose Peseiro.

The NFF, he revealed, had no money to hire a foreign coach. The body therefore went for the most available option, Finidi to ensure a smooth transition.

“Finidi was part of the coaching crew of Peseiro and it was therefore logical to ask him to continue.