– Emeteole explains why he quit El-Kanemi
By EMMA NJOKU
Coach Kelechi Emeteole has revealed why he quit his job as the technical adviser of El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri after he guided the club to regain promotion to the Premier League last season. The seasoned tactician told Saturday Sunsports that his wife and the Council of Chiefs of his autonomous community prevailed on him not to return to Maiduguri following the prevalent insecurity in Borno State and its environs occasioned by the spate of killings by the notorious religious sect, Boko Haram.
Emeteole, who holds a chieftaincy title in his Isiukwuato Community of Abia State, however, confessed that he would miss the management team of the Maiduguri Warriors, whose cooperation he said, largely contributed to the team’s promotion back to the Premier League at the end of last season. “My wife and the Council of Chiefs in my town prevailed on me not to return to Maiduguri because of the security situation there and in other northern parts of the country due to the spate of killings masterminded by the notorious religious sect, Boko Haram.
The elders in my town, friends and well wishers were not left out in the decision that I must not return to Maiduguri,” the man fondly called Caterpillar revealed. “I had wanted to go back and continue with my job, but my wife threatened to park her things and return to her parents with all our children because, according to her, returning to Maiduguri would mean that I have chosen to commit suicide,” he narrated. Caterpillar revealed that the chairman of El-Kanemi personally called his wife to plead with her to allow him return to his job, assuring her of her husband’s security in Maiduguri, but she stood her grounds. “The club chairman requested for my wife’s telephone number to enable him plead with her to allow me to return to Maiduguri, and I obliged him. But all his entreaties fell on deaf ears, as my wife would not want to hear that I went back to the El-Kanemi job, even for a billion dollars.
“She vehemently refused to conceded to the chairman’s plea, citing the recent killing of El-Kanemi Warriors’ doctor as well as the attempt on the life of the Shehu of Borno by the members of Boko Haram as reasons for her objection. According to her, if prominent indigenes of Borno State could be attacked, what security would a non-indigene like me claim to have? “It was a difficult decision for me, but I wouldn’t want a situation whereby I would be blamed dead or alive if something eventually happens to me for insisting on going back to Maiduguri. “I must, however, confess that I will miss the wonderful management team of El-Kanemi Warriors, particularly the chairman, secretary and the welfare officer. They were all wonderful and highly cooperative.
“The club’s management team remains the best I have worked with so far since my coaching career. They consulted me whenever they wanted to take any decision that would affect the team and they never interfered with the club’s technical matters. Whenever there was money for the team, they would ensure that the players and officials got their dues. “At the moment, I am only being owed about 10 per cent of my sign-on fee for last season and they have promised to pay me the balance as soon as possible.
I would really miss them and I hope to work with a management team like that again. “I would have loved to return to El-Kanemi Warriors, but as somebody who does not like interference in technical matters, it would be difficult for me not to step on toes when I take certain decisions that I consider best for the club considering the fact that El-Kanemi will play in the elite division when the new league season kicks off. “For instance, if I decide to drop some of the indigenous players that fail to measure up to the standard I require for the team’s success in the Premier League, somebody could go and recruit the terror gang to cause some troubles for me.
These are some of the fears,” Emeteole regretted. The former Heartland FC of Owerri gaffer said he’s, however, available and ready to team up with any ambitious side that might require his services in the coming season. “I’m ready to work with any club that needs my services. My style is to sit with the management of the club on a round table and discuss what the team’s target is. I like to know if the management is interested in producing players for sale, winning titles or just playing to make up the numbers. “It is their target or interest that will determine the way we work and how the team would be funded,” Caterpillar explained.
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