By Ime Bassey
Media Officer of Ilorin based Nigerian Premier League outfit,  Bukola Babes , Jimoh Bashir has made it clear that the team’s former technical Adviser, Festus Allen was not suspended for poor results but for not coordinating the team well enough.

In a chat with Inside Out Premier League, Bashir said the club has confidence on its present technical adviser, stressing  that the team will endeavour to pick points from its weekend match against Warri Wolves.

“People are getting it wrong, Allen was not suspended because of 100% performance but because he could not coordinate the affairs of the team very well. The problem of Bukola Babes is not Allen, we knew this because when he was around, we had poor results too.

We do not want to appoint any coach again till the end of the season. Kabir Salaiman Dogo should continue as the acting technical adviser. We have confidence in him, hundred percent,” he said.

Looking ahead to the team’s away tie against Warri Wolves at the Warri Township Stadium, the Image Maker said, “We have done surgical operation on the team, we are preparing well for the game. We want to see how we can reduce the damage done in Ilorin last weekend by endeavouring to pick at least a point.”

God, hard work  our sources of strength — Tenge

Coach of Niger Tornadoes, Justin Tenge has attributed his team’s impressive run  to God and the government’s kind gesture of paying the players their salaries and match bonuses as at when due.

He disclosed to Inside Out Premier League that the team’s away victory over Bukola Babes was a collective effort by the players after serious prayers and preparations.

“I give glory to God for everything. It was a very challenging task for me when I left Wikki Tourist, which was in the first position in the National League One for Niger Tornadoes. During the break, we brought in players to strengthen the team and most of them have lived up to expectation, which is why the team is where it is today.

“One good thing about Niger Tornadoes is that, the salary of the players is very regular. They are paid as at when due. The only problem we have now is that of back log of salary which the Government has swung into action to settle.  Up till now, as I speak with you, the players are not being owed any match bonus,” Tenge stressed.

Commenting on the team’s away victory against Bukola Babes over the weekend, the coach said, “I can’t take the glory alone, but we all as a team wanted to win in Ilorin, so we prayed  with serious preparations, and God gave us the victory,” he said.

On the visit of Shooting Stars to Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna this weekend, he said, “our expectations are just to win. Normally when a team wins away, the players feel they are on top but I do not think that will be our case. We will play a different football from what we played against Bokula Babes. We will cage them well enough to get a victory.

Since my return to the team, only Lobi Stars have managed to run away from Minna with a point, all other teams have taken a least three goals back to their bases,” Tenge added.