By Godwin Bamigboye.

Sokoto United Football Club recently disengaged its Technical Adviser, Coach Mansur Abdullahi for reasons they highlighted in the letter conveying their decision.

The reasons given for his disengagement includes,  1. Persistent lack of dedication and commitment to the team's objectives.
2. Failure to establish residency in Sokoto State, thereby limiting his involvement in team activities and hindering the team's performance.
3. Repeated instances of disrespect and insubordination towards the management team, compromising the team's cohesion and morale.
4. Engagement in activities detrimental to the image and reputation of the team, management, and the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, Sokoto State.
5. Unapproved absence from the team for five consecutive days prior to the first Federation Cup match in Nasarawa on May 2, 2024, jeopardizing the team's preparation and performance.
6. Frequent unauthorized absences to pursue personal engagements, including matches against Malunfashi FC, Mailantarki FC, and City FC of Abuja, without obtaining the necessary approval from the management.

The Management of Sokoto United has the right to hire and fire any of its employees according to laid down procedures and in this case as articulated in the Contract entered into with Coach Mansur Abdullahi. There is no disputing their authority in disengagement of their former Technical Adviser.

An employee engaged to render service as usual is given conditions of his or her engagement, targets to achieve are clearly spelt out and it is expected too that the employer will also give the enabling environment for the employee to realize the target given him or her by the employer. 
The question one would ask as it concerns the Sokoto United Football Club is, has Coach Mansur Abdullahi met the standard or target set for him? On the part of Sokoto United, I will say, No. Why? The Club has given Six reasons for his disengagement as earlier listed. Needless to discuss these reasons. However, I see it necessary to take a look at Number Two (2) and Number Six (6) reasons.

Number 2 says, "Failure to establish residency in Sokoto State, thereby limiting his involvement in team activities and hindering the team's performance".
If his non residency in Sokoto affected team's performance to the extent that Sokoto United for the first time for over a period of 20 years qualified to participate in the playoffs for promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), this I see as a positive team performance. Why penalize the Coach for attaining this elusive achievement? This requires further explanation.

Reason Number 6. Frequent unauthorized absences to pursue personal engagements, including matches against Malunfashi FC, Mailantarki FC, and City FC of Abuja, without obtaining the necessary approval from the management.
I am a bit confused about the Malunfashi match that the Management of Sokoto United claimed that Coach Mansur was unavailable. I say this because of the viral video where Coach Mansur was thoroughly beaten by hooligans in Malunfashi. Who is lying?

Coach Mansur Abdullahi on his part has made it clear that if his complaint against undue interference in the team line up by the Sokoto State Commissioner for Sports is perceived as insubordination, he has no regrets on professional grounds. He wished Sokoto United well in their endeavours. Whichever way we look at it, the employer has hired and has also fired his employee and it is my beliefs that his severance benefits will be paid to him expeditiously.

However, there is a sad tale that will continue to linger in this Sokoto United and Coach Mansur Abdullahi relationship. It is a sad narrative of a Coach who took the team from its perpetual stagnation for over 20 years to a higher platform to seek for promotion and rather than being appreciated was greeted with a disengagement from work. What an irony! 
What's more? Gladly or sadly, the assistant that Coach Mansur Abdullahi came with to the Club was elevated to the position of Technical Adviser. Sokoto United Management has therefore gone ahead to make sure that the relationship of a mentor and mentee goes sour. 

The relationship between Sokoto United and Coach Mansur Abdullahi is best described as the more you look, the less you understand. Yes, I don't know why there is crisis amidst success. I think the Management of Sokoto United goofed.
I am Spectator.