Garba Lawal Causes Unrest In Kaduna United

With less than a week to Kaduna United’s first game in the Glo NPFL season,an unrest has been created in the team after ex-international and newly appointed team manager,Garba Lawal demoted some coaches and team staff and appointed a new media officer.

Those affected according to sources close to the club are loyalist to the club chairman, Hon. Sabo Babayaro.

They include Media Officer,Mohammed Suleiman,Kit Manager, Aminu Kuli, Coach Saleh Barnabas and Saleh Tanko Lato.

The said purge didn’t go down well with the team’s supporters who stormed the  training ground on Thursday morning demanding Coach Ben Duamlong who also signed on the letter offered to the affected staff be sacked.

They denied the team access to the training ground untill the State commissioner for Youth and Sports,Usman Zubairu intervened.

The Commissioner upon arriving the scene of the incident faulted the supporters for not informing him of their grievances before revealing he knew nothing about the staff demotion and employment of a new media officer.

“I was made to understand that a memo from Garba Lawal needed my approval and that memo was the one that carries the appointment of a new media officer,coaches demotion and promotion but I am yet to approve it.

“I am surprised it was given out to the affected persons,”he said.

He calmed the angry supporters down and they allowed the team to train and he invited them to a meeting at his office by 2pm but as at the time of going to press, conclusions from the meeting are yet to be known.

Angry supporters who later aired their anger were surprised that a team manager will axe staff, promote coaches and employ staff without the knowledge of  Commissioner of Sports or Chairman.

All efforts to get to the Club’s chairman proved abortive as he was out of town and his lines were all switched off but one of the affected staff, the media officer, Mohammed Suleiman said he wasn’t at the pitch for two days now so he won’t comment on what he is ignorant about.

When pressed further he pleaded saying he is busy with plans concerning the wedding of an uncle and will get back to us after the wedding.

In the changes made Uba Mohammed was appointed team spokesperson while Yinka Salihu was promoted to the role of assistant coach with Saleh Lato relegated to the club’s Team B.

The letter on regards to the above mentioned was signed by the Team Manager Garba Lawal and Coach Ben Duamlong.