……Coach vows to spring surprises next match against Plateau United
Coach of Akwa United, Umar Abdullahi, has expressed optimism to redeem his team from potentially plunging into relegation.
Abdullahi made this disclosure during his post-match conference at Pantami Township Stadium Gombe, shortly after his team drew the host Gombe United Football Club 1-1.
Our correspondent reports that DC Nnaji of Gombe United scored at the 52nd minute, before it was equalised by S Suleiman at the 61st minute to the end of the match.
The gaffer who acknowledged his team’s fatigue as reason it lost focus said, “I say congrats to us because ever since we started, we have been struggling on the road, we hardly pick a point. This is one of the stepping stones by not losing from home again. We know that the team is in danger and the only way we can avert the danger is by earning points. We came for the maximum three points but we got a point and we thank God it.”
He added, “A little bit satisfied because we came for three points. In football, when you come for a game, you plan for three points but whatever comes out of the game, you take it and embrace it in good fate.
“One thing I told my team is that in away games, both teams are in danger and if we win, we escape from danger. With what we exhibited, we couldn’t get the three points but it is another stepping stone.
“It is not only Gombe United, even us. We succeeded because we were more determined. They also needed the three points but whosoever deserves it gets it at the end of the game.
“One thing is when we come back to God’s will Akpabio, our first match was against Enyimba, second was against Bendel Insurance. Whether we like it or not, fatigue is written all over the players because I know they are tired looking at their performance from the beginning of the match till the end. I wished they had rested and refreshed themselves, you would have seen a different game entirely.”
According to Abdullahi, Football has its own setback stressing that the team has suffered a setback, so needs everything done at the early stage.
“One thing is getting the players and another is using them well. This team has a culture of keeping the ball and playing simple. We have lost the philosophy of the team, we tried bringing it back at the beginning of the season but we failed due to unpreparedness. It is a wake up call, if we escape where we are now, we are going to see a different Akwa United,” he said.
On what fans should expect going forward, he added, “I told media that losing from home has stopped. We don’t have to continue losing points from home but what we need to do is keep picking points from the road and it has started from this match. Our next match is an away match against Plateau United and I am confident in the players. They are ready to play for the team, the management and even the coaches. They should expect being shocked because I know what the players can do.”
