As Coach Ashifat Sulyman was unveiled as Kwara United’s new manager, Ilorin awaits yet another kickoff, though not necessarily the one with goals and tackles. For those who follow the politics of the pitch, this unveiling feels less like a new beginning and more like a replay of a familiar fixture: same club, same tensions, same unpredictable scoreline.
But if history has taught us anything, it’s that at Kwara United, the real game doesn’t always happen on the pitch. Sometimes, the whistle for the real match is blown long after full-time.
Ashifat isn’t new to this pitch. He was assistants to coach Abdullahi Biffo, Kabiru Dogo and was part of the coach Tunde Sanni technical crew. He’s had spells before, one of it ended abruptly when “funds couldn’t meet salaries.”
Now, he’s head coach with same club, different era, same unpredictable terrain. His technical and tactical prowess is beyond question, but at Kwara United, it takes more than good formations to stay on the touchline. Here, even paperwork can pull a red card.
My candid advice to the coach, before you call your first team meeting, take a second look at that contract. Even if your signature has been dried on the document, engage a lawyer, let him/her play the role of VAR — check every line, every clause, every small print that could turn into a surprise substitution later.
Because a contract can go from protection to penalty in seconds. Ask coach Tunde Sanni, who was shown the exit door after poor results, only to reveal he never even had a formal deal. That was not just a sack; it was an own goal of professionalism from all sides involved.
Now, to be fair, clubs and coaches clash all the time, it’s part of the game. But how you manage public reactions defines your leadership. There’s been talk that comments were made by the club hierarchy about “revealing things” concerning a dismissed coach if he keeps talking and while such remarks might sound like passion or revenge, they also sound like a counterattack where a more professional wordings would have sufficed. That statements points towards lack of leadership ethics. Sometimes the best defense is composure, not confrontation.
The Chairman has a vibrant media office and now a legal aide, one would hope for tighter coordination, a proper passing game between departments. Because leadership isn’t about who shouts from midfield; it’s about who reads the game from the bench. Sometimes, staying behind the scenes gets you a clean sheet.
Now, let’s talk about another match quietly playing in the background, the whispers about Under-19 players allegedly being privately owned. Nobody is certain, but if there’s a kernel of truth there, it’s a dangerous counterattack waiting to happen. Youth football should be about growth, not control. The club must lead by example and take that ball head-on and clear it from its defensive line fast.
And of course, no story about Kwara United is complete without the ongoing rivalry with the Kwara State Sports Commission. It’s a classic derby — one filled with passion, pride, and power play. The Commission Chairman, Bolakale Mogaji has stayed on top of his game thus far in battle for bragging rights, like every other actor in this game, he has his own undoing as well.
I personally enjoy this rivalry; it keeps both camps sharp. Because if they ever start agreeing on everything, one side has clearly dropped its tactics board. As Coach Ashifat begins this new chapter, may wisdom guide his playbook and we all hope for a better Kwara United.
Now, let me make this clear, this piece isn’t to criticize anyone. It’s an appeal purely written from my observations. If anyone chooses to read it otherwise, that’s their kettle of fish. But here’s the truth, Kwara United is a club that never plays a dull season. Even when the scoreline is settled, there’s always another twist waiting in stoppage time. Because in Kwara United’s story, the real match never ends, it just change of jerseys.
Bolaji Lawal
