Foremost and award winning football administrator in Nigeria, Mike Idoko has revealed the secrets towards becoming a successful manager in the Nigerian football world.
In an exclusive interview with Silvernews.com.ng, Idoko advised football managers to firstly commit their affairs to their maker before embarking on the journey.
He also shared his experience during the coup in Mali and how he was able to navigate the challenges with the Embassy officials.
He said: “It depends on the assignment given to you by the management or owner of the team. The General Manager is to look at the day-to-day affairs of running the club and also to see to the welfare of the players and officials.
“He also oversee how the team is faring and make a periodic reports that is sent to the owner of the team. He has to investigate why the team is doing wrong.
“It depends on the organogram because you have the schedule of duties. If you are not given the right schedule of duties, that is where you have conflicts but right from the get go, if you are given a schedule of duties, you will know where and when your duty ends. Everybody has his or her own jurisdiction and we that you can all work together for the success of the team.
“First and foremost, it is God. I believe in Him as a Christian. When I reach to any club, I commit the club to the altar of God. You allow the players and don’t put fear into them because they are the ones doing the job. Make sure you give to them their entitlements. Once you hold it back, then the players will start changing attitude instead of playing well, they will play against the team.
“Even out of your own, you have to encourage them by Man of the Match award because they know if this player is doing well, they will be able to tell you. Put a prize and everyone will be fighting to get that award.
“There are politics. You have to play the politics because everything is politics. The kind of politics that is in football is even more than our normal politics. You have to know who are in the authority, be friendly with them, work with them.
“If you are going on a continent, you have to get people that are there especially at the embassy. Make sure you contact the embassy and once you do that, they will be able to assist. Once you enter the country, you go and report at the embassy.
“We have the consulate and ambassadors there. They were able to give us the support, protection and advice. Basically, we thank God Almighty for coming out unscathed and have to appreciate Nigerians that are there. They were able to gather support for us.”
