The Nasarawa United Gazette
Market29 Oct 2035
Kelechi Osimhen hands in a written request
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Nasarawa United can pretend not to have heard.
Squad29 Oct 2035
Words exchanged at Nasarawa United
Umar Ada and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
The dugout29 Oct 2035
Ifeanyi Akinola frozen out at Nasarawa United
This is not rotation. Ifeanyi Akinola has not been in the manager's plans for some time, and nobody at Nasarawa United is pretending otherwise.
Squad29 Oct 2035
Ojo Johnson falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
The dugout29 Oct 2035
When it matters, Olayinka Aribo plays
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
The dugout29 Oct 2035
No hiding place for Simon Dennis
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Simon Dennis, and the manager let it.
Market29 Oct 2035
The Jofrank Istifanus story refuses to die
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Jofrank Istifanus signs something — a contract at Nasarawa United or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
The dugout29 Oct 2035
Olayinka Aribo knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Nasarawa United, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Squad29 Oct 2035
Adebayo Kalu is not doing himself any favours
A manager forgives a bad Saturday far more readily than a bad Tuesday, because one of them he can explain and the other one he chose. The reports this week have not been good.
In brief
- Match A season winding down at Nasarawa United
- Squad David Ogunjobi back in training