Tag: Maikaba

The coach of Nigeria league leaders Wikki Tourists, Abdu Maikaba, has told AfricanFootball.com Enugu Rangers  are the biggest threat to the Bauchi club clinching a first-ever championship this season.

“Rangers will be the biggest threat to our ambition to be champions. They have a good team, play good football and like my team, they parade a good number of young players. When we first clashed in Enugu, both coaches agreed that one of us will be champions,” Maikaba toldAfricanFootball.com.

The highly-rated Wikki coach, who has also worked at Enyimba and Kano Pillars, has therefore said a win against Rangers on Sunday is crucial to their title aspirations.

“It is very, very important that we win this game because it is a match between the two top teams in the league. A win will consolidate our leadership of the table and also boost our chances to go all the way to win the league,” he said.

“We have always wanted our matches to be live on TV because not being on TV has denied my players many opportunities like being noticed by national team selectors,” he said.

“If our games were more often on TV, everyone would now know why we are on top of the league table.”

Coach of high-riding Wikki Tourists, Abdu Maikaba is widely tipped to be named as an assistant coach of the Super Eagles.

Maikaba aka ‘Audu Soccer’ has been one of the most consistent coaches in the Nigeria league and was on the verge of heading the Golden Eaglets this year before Manu Garba made a u-turn and agreed to take up the post.

Maikaba has previously handled Enyimba and hometown club, Kano Pillars.

Despite running on a shoe-string budget, the physics graduate has guided Wikki to the top of the league with 41 points from 23 matches.

Last season, the Bauchi club narrowly missed out on continental football to Nasarawa United.

Emeka Nwabulu has declared that Wikki Tourists deserve to be considered title contenders in the Nigeria Professional Football (NPFL) League.

The Bauchi-based outfit have won 11 of their 21 matches played in the top flight to sit at the top of the table with 38 points.

“Last season didn’t go the way we wanted it to be, but I believe in this team and this club. I’m happy to be part of this project,” Nwabulu told Goal.

“After this streak of results we are in the running for the title, but we’ll have to see where we are at the end of the season.  Coach Maikaba pays attention to every little detail, that is what has really impressed me. When you have a coach like this, it is always positive.”

Wikki Tourists are at home to Kano Pillars in the match day 23 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Sunday.

The game will take place at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium.

Abdul Maikaba has admitted that he is reluctant to set targets for his improving Wikki Tourists side this season, while declaring himself  “extremely happy” with their form.

The Bauchi side has won the last four games in quick succession, scoring eight goals in a run that includes a notable 3-1 victory over defending Nigeria Professional Football League champions Enyimba.

Speaking to Goal after his team’s 1-0 win at home to El-Kanemi Warriors on Wednesday, Maikaba believes that his boys have greater self-belief this campaign ahead of this weekend’s clash with Heartland.

“I am extremely happy. With respect to last season I see a team that is more precise and convinced of its strength. We are scoring more than we were doing last season and we are adapting better to our opponents. I don’t know where this will take us but what I do know is that we are growing and we have to continue on this path,” Maikaba told Goal.

Wikki Tourists technical adviser, Abdul Maikaba has expressed satisfaction over his team’s performances in the first round of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) which ended with week 19 matches on Sunday.

With one match outstanding against Enyimba, Wikki Tourists still occupy fourth position on the log, a feat Maikaba described as success.

“At the beginning of the season, we set a target to finish among the top four in the first round. And without playing our outstanding game against Enyimba we are already in 4th position.

“We were unable to pick a continental ticket last season because of goals difference. We noticed that problem last season and we challenged ourselves to improve on it. As at today we have more goals on the log more than any club with plus 16 goals and the club  following us has plus 10 goals. Again, we conceded few numbers of goals. With 19 matches played so far, I see this as an achievement and I am proud of it. If we can continue like this in the second round we will achieve our target at the end of the season,” Maikaba told SportingLife.

A win over Enyimba on Wednesday in a rescheduled match will see the Bauchi-based outfit move to the summit of the league.

“We can top the league table if we can beat Enyimba on Wednesday,” he said.

Wikki Tourists head coach, Abdul Maikaba was pleased to see his men work hard and sacrifice themselves for the good of the team.

The Bauchi based outfit spanked Warri Wolves 4-0 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in a rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League fixture on Wednesday.

Godwin Obaje scored first for the hosts after 41 minutes, before Harrison Madu’s strike and a brace from Mohammed Idris gave the Bauchi-based  team a resounding win.

“The lads did very well today (Wednesday). We played a draw against Akwa United on Sunday, so everyone had to work hard and sacrifice themselves for the good of the team in order to win,” Abdul Maikaba told Goal.

“We need everyone to be available for the side and with the belief that we are a strong squad. It was important to get back to winning ways and we played well. It’s a plus that’s we didn’t allow them to score, but we created so many opportunities. I was glad to see everyone ready to work hard.”

Wikki Tourists head coach, Abdul Maikaba has made no secret of the fact his side wants to finish in the top of the NPFL table this season.

The Bauchi-based side are tenth in the 2016 Nigeria Professional Football League season and host Niger Tornadoes in a week seven fixture on Sunday.

“Up until now I am satisfied with our performance, though we can still improve,” the former Enyimba coach told Goal.

“We have a precise identity and that is certainly an added advantage. We are playing with a lot of Intensity. When we finish this cycle against Niger Tornadoes on Sunday, we will have one outstanding game to play.”

“In some cases we have been unlucky to lose games which we need to correct in our subsequent assignments. I’m always interested in winning. When we are set up well on the pitch, it’s difficult to put us down. We need points to move to the top cadre of the league table. We always want to be solid and make our opponents struggle: it’s our trademark.”

Wikki Tourists have a tough league fixture against Niger Tornadoes at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium on Sunday.

Wikki Tourists head coach, Abdul Maikaba has said his side are positive for a glorious campaign in the coming 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The Bauchi-based side will open its title account in Sunday’s NPFL matchday 1 clash at El Kanemi Warriors in Katsina.

Maikaba said his side have done perfectly well in their pre-season preparations to deserve an improved performance in the coming season.

“Wikki Tourists are very ready for the coming Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

“We have improvement in all fronts, the players’ salary improved greatly, we retained 90% of the players in the out gone season, we added some new players that will add strength to the team and we had excellently pre-season training as well as test matches.

“What we are waiting for at the moment is the commencement of the new league season.

“We will strive to surpass our performance in the immediate past season and if we surpassed last season fourth position we will grab a continental ticket or win the league title.

“Outright victory is our target against El Kanemi Warriors in Sunday’s NPFL matchday 1 clash in Katsina.

“Though we are yet to hit the 100% mark in term of readiness but I know before the weekend we will rectify and tighten the loose end to face El Kanemi Warriors,” said the former Enyimba coach to supersport.com.