The board have said in public what they had been saying in private. Results between now and the next meeting decide it, and everybody in the building knows the arithmetic.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Katsina United is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Katsina United, and both men came out saying it was fine.
What was said behind closed doors has now been said in front of a microphone. Everybody at Katsina United can do the arithmetic, including the man it is aimed at.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Katsina United is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
“Ask me in the summer. I will know before anybody else does.” He is 35 with 15 appearances behind him, and Katsina United have to plan for both answers.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
The deal that would have taken Mujeeb Odifeso to Shooting Stars has collapsed at the last stage, and he reports back to Katsina United with a summer to forget and a season still to play. Nobody is saying which side walked away.
He found out with everybody else, an hour before kick-off, from a sheet of paper on a wall. Nobody at Katsina United pretended it was anything other than a decision about him.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; David Onovo will call it something else in private.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Sani Faisal will call it something else in private.
A shoot-out is remembered by its ending, and this one ends with Joshua Enaholo: 3 kept out, and a set of supporters who will describe every one of them for the next twenty years.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Katsina United have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Katsina United have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
“The easiest signature of my career.” Jamilu Yusuf and Katsina United agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Katsina United have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Katsina United is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
A shoot-out is remembered by its ending, and this one ends with Saidu Hamisu: 3 kept out, and a set of supporters who will describe every one of them for the next twenty years.
Bendel Insurance are out and Katsina United go through, 2-2 the final word. The bracket opens up a little, and everyone allows themselves a look at it.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Katsina United they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Katsina United have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
A 1-0 win over Nasarawa United, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
The list is a quiet document with a loud meaning. Christopher Richards may talk to anybody who asks, and everybody at the club understands what that means.
Shifted about, taken off before the hour, asked to do somebody else's running — Elijah Akanni has had enough of being useful and would like to be picked. Katsina United know, and have known for weeks.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Katsina United they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Katsina United they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Katsina United is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Katsina United, and both men came out saying it was fine.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
Shifted about, taken off before the hour, asked to do somebody else's running — Uche Collins has had enough of being useful and would like to be picked. Katsina United know, and have known for weeks.
In brief
The terracesThe press have found their man in Elijah Akanni
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
The competition arrived without a word said to him about it. Christopher Richards keeps the shirt for now, at Katsina United's convenience rather than his own.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Christopher Richards has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
Public backing, and the sort that costs a manager something if it turns out to be wrong. Christopher Richards has been told in front of everybody that the shirt is his.
He came through the session, took part in everything and finished it smiling. Katsina United will not rush him, and he will spend the next fortnight trying to rush them.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Katsina United can pretend not to have heard.
Every debut is a small story about the future: Nasir Ahmed, 20 years old, off the academy pitches and into the first team. The parents in the stand will keep the programme.
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Katsina United, and both men came out saying it was fine.
A new face in his position, and Christopher Richards suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Katsina United have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
The best deals are the ones the accountants never notice. Saturday Erimuya arrives at Katsina United with his wages the only cost and something to prove the only clause.