Maikaba walks away from Wikki Tourists amid disunity among stakeholders
Abdu Maikaba has resigned as head coach of Wikki Tourists, citing deep-rooted disunity among stakeholders as the major factor behind his decision to walk away from the Bauchi-based club. The
Abdu Maikaba has resigned as head coach of Wikki Tourists, citing deep-rooted disunity among stakeholders as the major factor behind his decision to walk away from the Bauchi-based club.
The experienced tactician, who only recently led the Giant Elephants back to the topflight, explained that persistent internal wrangling and instability off the pitch made it increasingly difficult for his team to perform optimally in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Maikaba specifically pointed to the frequent overhaul of the Wikki Tourists Supporters Club leadership whenever a new management committee is appointed by the state government, describing the practice as unhealthy and counterproductive.
According to him, the constant changes have bred resentment, created factions and turned some stakeholders into active opponents of the club’s progress.
“My players have given their all and played very good football this season. Honestly, we deserve more points than we have accumulated,” Maikaba told NationSport. “But football is not just about what happens on the pitch. When there is no unity behind the team, it affects everything — from performances at home to the general atmosphere around the club.”
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He added: “One of the major problems is that anytime a new chairman comes in, the first thing he does is to change the executive of the Supporters Club and install his own people. This automatically creates enemies, divisions and bitterness. Some stakeholders then begin to work against the club, and the players feel it, especially in home games.”
Maikaba revealed that he had repeatedly raised the issue with the club’s hierarchy in an effort to salvage the situation, but nothing concrete was done.
“I personally called the chairman and explained what needed to be done to restore unity and move the club forward. I exercised patience because I truly wanted this project to succeed. Unfortunately, nothing changed,” he said. “At this point, I need peace of mind. For the sake of my sanity and professionalism, I believe it is best to step aside and allow someone else to take over.”
His resignation came in the wake of a chaotic NPFL Matchday 25 encounter between Wikki Tourists and Katsina United, which ended in a dramatic 4–4 draw at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.
