Nigerian Football
Plateau United’s Matthew Chibudom: The NPFL’s Football Engineer
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 broadcasting icon, Dr. Nasir Danladi Bako has praised the Nigeria Football Federation for settling for former international and ex-Enyimba FC strategist Finidi George as Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
The Kogunan Sakwatto, 66, who created a plethora of famous TV programmes including Morning Ride, Mastersports and Second Chance, among others, and served as Special Adviser to a number of Sports Ministers many years ago, insisted the NFF leadership struck a bull’s eye with the appointment of the two-time FIFA World Cup star, stating that George oozes class and character, and an iron determination to succeed despite his public carapace of a quiet person.
“Finidi George has that cultured, disciplined mien and personality that makes you want to trust him with a big project. He understands the meaning of constituted authority and right from his playing days, has always displayed the attribute of a team player. He has always had that calm, collected nature even in the face of pressure or danger.
“Above all, he is not someone who thinks he is doing the nation a favour. He is grateful for the opportunity and I believe that he has all it takes to succeed. I am calling on the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, the NFF and Nigerians as a whole to support him to take the Super Eagles to brand-new heights.”
Bako, who holds a doctorate degree in development communication from the Ahmadu Bello University and was Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission between 1999 and 2002, says all hands must now be on deck to ensure victories in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic on 7 June and 11 June respectively.
“No doubt, the NFF got this one appointment right. Very much on point. Now, they should endeavour to give George all the support he needs to succeed in his task of qualifying Nigeria for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh on Monday praised the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation for settling for an indigenous Head Coach for the Super Eagles, despite the plethora of foreign tacticians who applied for the job.
Enoh, who spoke at the unveiling ceremony of the Eagles’ new substantive Head Coach, Finidi George at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, charged the NFF to give the former winger all the support to succeed, while also soliciting the support of all Nigerians for the new helmsman.
“As a student of the University of Calabar in those days, I used to go to the UJ Esuene Stadium to watch Calabar Rovers, which included Finidi George. I am excited to see him seated here as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles.”
President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau exuded delight with the ‘new chapter’ the Federation is opening about the Nigeria game, saying the football-governing body is determined to fully support George and his assistants to lead the Super Eagles to new heights.
“When we returned from the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, we began the search for a new Head Coach. There was a plethora of foreign applicants, far more than the indigenous applicants. However, we undertook a thorough process that has produced an indigenous Coach and we are very happy about that. Finidi George was part of the technical crew that came close to winning the AFCON, and we have faith in him that he will lead the team to the title next time.
“Our objective now is to ensure the enthronement of excellence at all levels of the National Teams.”
New man on the managerial saddle of the Super Eagles, Finidi George has stated that he will invite for international assignments, only players who feature regularly at their clubs either in Nigeria or in the diaspora, and promised that the Super Eagles will remain even more competitive in the years ahead.
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