The Head Coach of Wikki Tourists, Abdu Maikaba and his goalkeeper, Emeka Nwabulu were yesterday named Manager and Player for the month of June by the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) - League Bloggers Awards (LBA).
Maikaba and Nwabulu were among eight shortlists announced to vie for both awards last week by the organisers.
The Wikki gaffer edged the trio of Solomon Ogbeide (Sunshine Stars), Gbenga Ogunbote (Shooting Stars Sports Club) and Kabiru Dogo (Nasarawa United) to win the manager's award for June.
Maikaba helped Wikki to garner the most points, including wins at Ikorodu United and victories over heavyweights Enyimba and Kano Pillars, in the month under review. Wikki got 13 points out of 18 available which gives Maikaba 72 per cent points gained in June.
Ogbeide, who masterminded an unbeaten streak for Sunshine Stars, only earned 67 per cent from total points as his team took eight points from 12 while Ogunbote also had 67 per cent points gained after 3SC amassed 10 points from 15.
However, Dogo led Nasarawa United to three wins (all at home) out of four games in June. Wikki custodian, Nwabulu, kept three clean sheets in five appearances in June, including two on the road at Ikorodu United and Heartland where his club earned four points out of six. His other clean sheet was in the NPFL home game against El-Kanemi Warriors that ended goalless.
He is named for the player's award ahead of Shedrack Oghali (Warri Wolves), Abdulrahman Bashir (Nasarawa United) and Hussaini Bata (El-Kanemi Warriors), who scored three goals each in June.
Nwabulu becomes the first goalkeeper to emerge winner in the monthly award of the NPFL-LBA