Tag: Baraje

Coach Zachery Baraje has expressed his frustrations at the way local coaches jump at jobs without understanding their contracts.

“Mistakes do happen in life and making the right corrections is very important. I wouldn’t go to any club without sorting the contract details. I now have an intermediary who manages me so that simply means I wouldn’t run into jobs all by myself. Instead a manager, a professional who manages me will discuss and sort out terms,” Baraje told Goal.

“I have made a lot of mistakes, especially when it comes to contracts, that’s why club chairmen will confidently mess up one’s entitlement. In fact most coaches in Nigeria have made this mistake or are still in it.

“I was forced out of Akwa United because the chairman at the club at the time never liked me. Maurice Cooreman has been contacted even before I left so I had to leave immediately after the Federation Cup win in 2015.

“One thing that compels coaches to jump into jobs is the fear of losing it but what’s the benefit if you do that and end up broke, your employer fail to pay you? Unfortunately so, the coaches association isn’t organised and that has been a big disadvantage. I wish I could just share a word of advise with other coaches not to jump into a contract without a professional who’s meant to read through and interpret the details before you sign.”

Plateau United head coach, Zachary Baraje has disputed the 12th position for his side in the out gone 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Baraje said it would amount to miscarriage of justice for the points to be shared between his side and Heartland based on the existing result before the match ended inconclusively.

“Of course, Plateau United would not have finished the season’s campaign on the 12th position on 49 points. That’s crude and unfair to us as it was public knowledge that the matchday 38 clash against Heartland in Jos was inconclusive. So how can anybody consider it fair to share the points based on the existing result (1-1) before the match ended abruptly.

“The fairest thing to do is either we were awarded the whole three points or the remaining minutes are played. We were not the one that abandoned the match and should not be wrongly punished for the sins of another person. I do not know how and where Heartland came up with the theory that they could savage a win against us in Jos after they allowed already demoted side, Ikorodu United to beat them right there at their backyard.

“I have not lost any match in Jos upon assumption as coach of the side. In the past 35 or 36 years in the coaching profession I have never been involved in the shady deal. The League Management Company (LMC) should quickly do the needful to correct the wrong impression because we will never accept the league table as stated that we finished the season on the 12th position on 49 points. A quick clarification is needed before the wrong position ascribed to us goes virile and that will be the greatest injustice of the out gone season,” said the former El Kanemi Warriors and Enyimba coach to supersport.com.

Plateau United head coach, Zachary Baraje has said his topmost priority in the on-going top-flight is to steer the side away from relegation.

“I’m working very hard to get the side away from the relegation zone they are in at the moment. Although it’s becoming very clear almost on a minute basis with response of the players to instruction that we will survive the drop at the end of the day.

“However, we are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure we maintain and improve on the momentum. Part of the measures we are working on is to avoid the circumstance that usually leads to a late penalty awarded against us mostly on away matches.

“We play good football on the road but go ahead to lose due to some questionable calls on the referees which result in penalties. I know we prepare well for matches. I hope with better officiating we are sure to earn good results on the road that will speed up our climb out from the uncomfortable zone,” said the former Enyimba coach to supersport.com.

“Wikki Tourists are a hard and tough side, we overcome them because I specifically prepared my charges, too for the clash. The hard fought win is confidence building for us to confront Abia Warriors in their den in Umuahia next weekend,” said the former Akwa United coach.

Veteran coach, Zachary Baraje has returned to Plateau United and will lead the Jos side to Kano ahead of their weekend NPFL Match Day 19 tie against Pillars, SportingLife can confirm.

The acting General Manager of the club, Paul Henwam sanctioned the suspension of the former Enyimba and El Kanemi Warriors head coach, but in show of power tussle SportingLife was told that the Plateau State Commissioner for Youth and Sport Development, Danladi Mang has ordered his reinstatement.

Plateau United have almost concluded the process leading to the appointment of a new coach to replace Baraje when SportingLife was told that the commissioner got in touch with the acting GM of the club and told him that Baraje still remains his main person for the job and that he should resume work immediately.

The management of Plateau United has expressed dismay with club’s technical adviser, Zachary Baraje over his outburst in the media (not SportingLife) that he is not being given enough support to turn around the fortunes of the Jos side on their return to the top flight in the current campaign.

The acting General Manager of the club, Pius Hemwan in a statement signed by his club’s media officer, Albert Dakup wondered why coach Baraje would go to the media with such spurious allegation without discussing the issue with the management first.

Hemwan lamented that the club was not aware of the plans by the coach to bring in new players because he has not officially communicated the club on the matter.

He disclosed that insinuations by coach Baraje that the present crop of players most of whom delivered the premier league ticket are not good enough to compete in the elite division are baseless as he was given freehand to do his job including the recruitment of players without management interference.

The acting GM advised the technical adviser to concentrate on his job instead of engaging himself in unnecessary distraction which could derail the collective aspirations of the team.

The statement further challenged the coach to use his wealth of experience spanning over 30 years to work with the players on ground pending when the transfer window re-opens.

Hemwan reminded the coach that the three-match ultimatum given to him remained sacrosanct and he must therefore work towards achieving it or face the full wrath of the club management.

According to him, the management is working round the club to ensure that the need and the welfare of the team is taken care of and will not accept any act of sabotage.

Plateau United returned to the NPFL at the beginning of the season after a five-year absence and are currently occupying the 10th position on the league table with seven points from five matches and face Akwa United tonight in a NPFL Week 6 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.