Newly appointed Bayelsa United head coach, Abdu Maikaba, has appealed to the club’s supporters to stand firmly behind the team as preparations begin for the upcoming Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
Maikaba, who was officially unveiled last week following Bayelsa United’s relegation from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), has been tasked with leading the club back to Nigeria’s top flight.
The experienced tactician, who previously managed Akwa United and Plateau United, was appointed with a clear mandate to secure immediate promotion and restore Bayelsa United’s status among the country’s elite clubs.
Addressing the club’s faithful ahead of the new campaign, Maikaba highlighted the vital role supporters will play in the team’s promotion bid.
“The players will give everything on the pitch, but football is always stronger when the supporters become the twelfth man,” Maikaba said.
“Together, we can build a winning culture and achieve promotion.”
Maikaba is expected to begin reshaping the squad in the coming weeks as Bayelsa United step up preparations for what promises to be a highly competitive NNL season, with the club determined to secure an immediate return to the NPFL.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
