We lost for failing to take our chances, Niger Tornadoes’ coach laments
The Technical Adviser of Niger Tornadoes Football Club, Abubakar Bala, says they lost to hosts Gombe United FC on Monday because they failed to convert their goalscoring chances.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gombe United won 1-0 in the Match Day 8 fixture of the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
The Minna-based team conceded a goal after the hosts failed to convert a penalty kick, when goalkeeper George Michael saved Ahmed Jimoh’s kick in the 20th minute.
Bala told NAN that his team played well after conceding a goal but failed to convert their goalscoring chances in the match played at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe.
“In spite of losing by a lone goal, I can say that my players gave the hosts a good fight from the first half of the match till the end of the game.
“We too had our goalscoring opportunities, but unfortunately we could not utilise them,” he said.
The coach said what his team needed to do now was to look at their weak areas and work on them ahead of their next match.
“It was evident that immediately we conceded the goal and made some changes from the defensive midfield, the game became balanced.
“We took the game to them at every point, but our only problem was that we were unable to utilise our goalscoring chances,’’ he said.
Speaking on their next match, Bala who expressed satisfaction with Monday match’s officiating said his team would go on to work on their weak areas “so that we can secure maximum points at home against Akwa United”.
On his part, Aliyu Zubairu, the Technical Adviser of Gombe United, commended his players’ performance while admitting that the match was a difficult one to win.
Zubairu decried the missed goalscoring chances his strikers failed to convert to increase their goals tally.
He however pointed out that goalscoring was an act, and “we will continue to nurture the boys until they get it right”.
Also speaking, Yakubu Sarma, the chairman of Gombe State Football Association, commended Gombe football fans for the large turnout and their peaceful conduct.
He also commended the match officials for displaying professionalism throughout the match, adding that there was improvement in the level of officiating.
“The officials today (Monday) were fair and maintained standard.’’
NAN also reports that the lone goal of the match was scored in the 11th minute of the game by Yusuf Abdulazeez.