‘Motivation, support key to Kwara United’s Federation Cup victory’

Coach Babatunde Sanni Saihu is the Technical Adviser of Kwara United, and the Chairman, Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA), Kwara chapter. He spoke to sportsbash.com.ng on his achievements with Kwara United, what the Federation Cup victory means to him, the challenges during the season as well as other matters.

Excerpts:

Congratulations for winning the 2025 President Federation Cup trophy. How did you feel, immediately after the final whistle?

It was a dream fulfilled. As a player, I tried winning it, but failed. Not that I wasn’t in a good team that had the capacity to win it, but there were a lot of challenges that always made us fail in achieving that dream. I used that experience to lecture my players in this competition, especially, that we shouldn’t lose concentration. It’s just six matches in all. If you win the whole six, you have won the trophy. And we gradually won all the six matches to emerge champions. As we progressed, the players kept believing at every stage of the competition, up till the final.

As a player back then, it was difficult reaching the final. I was close to reaching the final in 1989, when I was with the defunct IBL Ilesha. That was the closest I ever got. We were knocked out by Iwuanyanwu Nationale, now Heartland FC of Owerri, in the semi-final. We played the semi-final at the Onikan Stadium twice. Iwuanyanwu Nationale was the best club in Nigeria then, because they were star studded.

What were the challenges you encountered along the line?

So many challenges…. but one man that was giving me encouragement was my mentor, Coach Kadiri Ikhana. He used to tell me that, Tunde…., you are a very good coach, but people have not fully noticed you. As we were progressing in the competition, he kept calling to tell me to try and win it. He told me I will be more exposed if I win it. Even a day before the final, he called to tell me that I must try to win it at all costs. He sent me a message after the final, congratulating me for winning it. Against all odds, we won it. Many thanks to my players, the backroom staff and everybody that assisted us along the way.

You joined Kwara United in 1997 as a foundation member. How did that happen?

That year, I was playing for Lagos NEPA. I had graduated from the University then, and all of us were placed on Level 09 in NEPA Football Club of Lagos then. Mr. Dele Oguntokun, who was my mentor, and whom we played together at Super Pioneer, came to Lagos to take me back to Ilorin. He was our Captain then at Super Pioneer. He used to encourage me to go to school then. He came personally to Lagos, as there was no mobile phone as at that time. They came with a bus, packed all my loads, and said that I must follow them to Ilorin. That was how I left Lagos to Ilorin. I even brought five players with me to Kwara United. They were great players in NEPA Lagos then, just to make Kwara United thick. When we came, we formed a major force in the formation of a strong Kwara United Football Club.

You were Assistant Captain of the team. You later became the Captain, the Technical Adviser, left, came back as a Chief Coach, left again, came back as Assistant Coach, and now the Technical Adviser. How was the journey?

The journey was far, that was because, as at that time, Coach Toyin Ayinla and Coach Sam Elijah were the eldest players in the team. They came earlier before me. But immediately I came, I made an impact, and that was how I became a strong force in the team. In our first season, we were able to come up and found ourselves in the Premier League after just a season. That was the first jinx we broke for the state, qualifying for the Premier League after numerous failed attempts to do so. A team must be united to achieve great things. I became the Technical Adviser in my latest adventure by surprise. It was a big surprise, because I wasn’t expecting it.

Taking a second look, how special was winning the President Federation Cup to you, being the son of the soil?

It’s very special on all fronts. At first, I didn’t realise how important it was. I thought it was like just winning a normal match, until events kept unfolding. Even my people in my area, Balogun Fulani Ward Three, where my Family House is, they celebrated me and the feat elaborately. They organised a special prayer for me. It was a wonderful experience. They celebrated the fact that one of their own, their son, was involved in making the state proud, by winning the trophy for the state for the first time. Until we got to Ilorin, I was receiving calls and getting messages left, right and centre. It’s a special moment for me. In Lagos, when I looked at the stands and saw people in Kwara United colour, I was overwhelmed. I feel proud. I was on a different level at that moment. For the fans, they thought it would be easy, but they must realise that it’s the final of a competition. Any team that makes it to the final of a competition isn’t a pushover at all. We need to praise Abakaliki FC for their good run, and beating four Premier League clubs en route to the final. They were highly determined in the final. Another motivation for them was, they wanted to play for bigger clubs. That also fueled their determination. They also have a good and tested coach, Ifeanyi Onyedika.

Now, you have a bigger challenge ahead of you. The NPFL, the President Federation Cup title which you will defend, and above all, the CAF Confederation Cup. How are you planning for all these?

It’s very simple. What I need is just a good pre-season of at least four weeks. Yes, four weeks. That’s the highest, when you are talking about pre-season. So many players want to join Kwara United now, because of our new found status. We have to bring in new tested players to tackle these challenges. We need to thank God that we have no injury worries throughout the season, because we have a relatively tiny squad. We lost our very first match of the season in the NPFL at home in Ilorin to Niger Tornadoes 0-2. That was the wake up call and turning point. We had to re-strategise, and began to use the players that are ready. All the players are important, but to me, you must show the readiness to play. On many occasions during the season, virtually all our matches became ‘must win’ matches. Therefore, there was no room for experiment at all. Anytime we make changes, it’s always a bit difficult. In the final of the Federation Cup for instance, our changes were tactical. People thought it’s not when you are not playing well that you can be substituted. No. So many things contributed to the changing of players, even if they are playing well. It’s not that the player is not playing well, but it’s a tactical issue. You can be playing well and not be productive.

The duration of a game is just 90 minutes, especially the Federation Cup where you have no extra time. And you as a coach have to think of strategies that will win matches for you within that period. We also looked at the prospect of the final ending in penalties, and that was why we brought in players who can give us results when it mattered most.

Now that you are playing three crucial competitions, apart from the pre-season you are requesting for, what other requirements are you planning to put forward?

Our team isn’t yet complete. We have serious loopholes that we must block. I don’t want a situation where I will have only 12 or 13 players available for matches. I want a situation where all the players that will make the team will be completely good and fit to play anytime any day. The players that are coming will have to show class, and battle for shirts with those on ground. So that we can build a strong team. We know our team, and we know the calibre of the players we will need. The current squad is good, but some of them will go. I will give it to them because some of them played in the NPFL for the first time. It wasn’t easy, but we sacrificed.

For the CAF Confederation Cup especially, I played continental competition as a player, and now as a coach, we will know how to navigate the challenges. But I want us to know that football is highly capital intensive. We should believe more about incentives. Kwara is a very good environment for football, but we should reduce or eradicate infighting. People fight themselves for no just cause….on nothing. Though, there is no way you will be in football without having differences, but we should approach everything with maturity. We should always do things that will not affect the team negatively. They shouldn’t provoke the government into closing its eyes on the team. We all witnessed how our unity and togetherness won us the Federation Cup trophy and also made us escape relegation. We won even matches that people thought would be difficult, because of their support. That’s the strength of unity.

When I came in as the coach, some people were against it, especially immediately after Coach Kabir Dogo.

But my advice to them then was, think of what the team will achieve, not about the personalities driving it. Your support can make the difference, and it indeed, made it. I was a foundation player of this team. I am part of its history. Kwara United is in my blood. I can’t work against its progress whether I am there or not. It’s a house I helped to build.

What type and size of squad should we be looking forward to in the new season?

The thing is….. There are differences between a team player and individual player. I always want players that can play my style, and who is a listener. You have to be 100 percent fit, and be tactically good. We are coming out in another colour next season. Kwarans will see a stronger team that will make them proud next season.

Before the final of the Federation Cup, people thought it would be that easy. As the coach, you don’t anticipate it will drag beyond 90 minutes?

Yes, by my experience, and the capacity of the team I have. I know my team, and I know those chances will come, no matter what, even if the whole Abakaliki FC players stayed inside their 18 yards box. And as you can see, the chances came, despite their defensive play. We were only unlucky not to score. They came with a plan that they wanted to defend throughout the match, so that we settled through penalties.

What was in your mind during the penalties, especially after losing the first kick?

All I knew was that we were going to win. I was optimistic. I don’t know how it would happen though. I expected my team to have scored at least a goal during the game. And when it dragged into penalties, we equally prepared for it, and tailored our chances towards it.

Are you re-negotiating your contract with the team, or do you have an existing contract?

Yes, of course….. Before now, I didn’t have a contract with Kwara United. I didn’t sign any contract with the team. I was just given the opportunity to lead the team as at that time because of how everything happened. Even though I know the implication of having it that way, I didn’t want any distraction. I always believe that I am part of the team. I have been sacked from the team before, despite the fact that I performed very well. Any coach that hasn’t been sacked in the course of duty is not yet a coach, because it’s part of the job. It’s when you are sacked that you sit down to think of other opportunities, and with that, you gain more experience.

But now that we have won the Federation Cup, we have to sit down and negotiate, and the agreements will lead to signing of a contract. It’s a normal thing.

Back then, I came on board by accident. If not for Coach Kabir Dogo that left, I cannot be given that opportunity. He left, and I was called in from Abia Warriors. The beginning wasn’t rosy at all, but we thank God it ended well.

You were a player, and now a coach. What are the differences between those two worlds?

As a player, to me, it’s relatively easy, than being a coach. As at the time I was playing, our coaches don’t talk too much. The players then know practically what to do when they get to the pitch. The mentality was high, the dedication, determination and discipline level was top notch. But now, the players have lots of opportunities but they aren’t exploring them. In those days, before you play in the elite league, you will have at least four to five years of experience in the lower league. Now, it’s from the Academies to the elite league, with not enough experience and capacity at all. And if a player plays just a few matches, they will say he is good enough to play abroad. As good as they may be, tactically, they are zero. It’s the tactics that’s the problem. You hardly find exceptional players in Nigeria today, because if you are good a bit, you are on your way outside the country. Though that doesn’t put coaches under pressure, because it’s more or less the same standard all around. It’s the technical know-how of the coaches that’s bridging the gap. In Nigeria today, I am not a pushover as a coach. I am a qualified handler. An award winning coach. I am also learned. When I was playing, I combined education with football, and I read sports. All my life has been in sports, especially football. I have been coaching Premier League teams since 2012.

What are your messages to the fans and supporters?

My thanks goes to the Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. He knows the importance of winning the trophy, and that was why he kept supporting us, and also witnessed how the final went in Lagos, personally. I also want to thank the State Sports Commission, the Chairman of the club and the management team, the players, backroom staff, Supporters Club and Fans Club, the State FA, the stakeholders and Kwarans as a whole, for their support. Most of them took the risk of being in Lagos for the semi-final and final matches, and even travelled at night. I salute their courage, loyalty and support. We thank God, no casualties were recorded throughout the trips. Special thanks to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari for his prayers and support.

Our Supporters and Fans should continue to believe in us. We have numerous doubters. When we started, not many believed we could not be where we are today, but their support made a huge impact. We thank them.