Gombe United confirms coach Babaganaru’s resignation

Relegation threatened Gombe United Football Club on Thursday confirmed the resignation of head coach, Mohammed Babaganaru.

The General Manager of the club, Abubakar Abubakar, confirmed Babaganaru’s resignation in an interview with our correspondent in Gombe.

“Yes, he (Babaganaru) has resigned,” said Abubakar.

Asked the reasons for the resignation, Abubakar said, “I don’t know, call him and ask him.”

Efforts to contact Babaganaru by NAN Correspondent proved abortive as his phone was switched off.

A top management staff, who declined to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak for the club, said the coach resigned on Wednesday citing poor funding by the state government, which according to the coach had become unbearable for his team.

Babaganaru had in an interview with NAN on Sunday shortly after his team’s 2-0 victory over Sporting Lagos at the Pantami Stadium appealed to Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State to rescue the team.

The coach said, “Finance is our major problem and we are pleading with Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State to come to our aid.

“We will go places with financial boost. We have the quality looking at the recruitment we did.

“It (not having enough funds) will affect the team in the NPFL.

“There is nothing you can do without money,” he said.

The two-time winner of NPFL with Kano Pillars who was hired by Gombe United in September 2023 had in several interviews complained about delay in making away trips.

This, he said, had often affected his players’ performance in away matches as they were always fatigued after long journeys by road.

The Maiduguri-born coach had also managed Lobi Stars of Makurdi, Nasarawa United, Wikki Tourists and El Kanemi Warriors before coming to Gombe United.

NEWSVERGE reports that on July 19, 2023, Aliyu Zubairu, Babaganaru’s predecessor also left the club after four seasons, identifyimg poor condition of service for his decision not to renew his contract with the club.

Gombe United currently occupy the 19th position on the NPFL log with 21 points from 21 matches with -17 goals difference.