Good morning Gents and Ladies,
We start a bright new Monday morning with some level of plesantness after the travails of last week. We had traveled to Yenegoa at the back of the NPFL Hammer dangling right above our heads. In the end, we nearly left the grounds of the Samson Siasia Stadium with all three points. We settle for a point and our Unbeaten run against Bayelsa United preserved.
The gaffer was missing a few regulars. Eze Ekwutoziam and Ani Ozoemena were unavailable for selection courtesy of their CHAN Eagles responsibilities. Clinton who we thought was in contention was another late withdrawal. Pascal Eze and Skipper Alalibo were also missing. Obot was handed the armband and the make shift defence had Asibe behind it.
I have seen many Enyimba coaches in the past but I am awed by Coach Yema. It takes guts to stick to principles especially away from home. I’ve seen the Legendary Kadiri Ikhana play three/five at the back at away games and come back very emptyhanded. I have also seen alot in this League and i can conclude that sensible “attacking play” away from home is ideal for getting a point or three away from home.
Most home teams expect you to sit back and soak up the pressure and maybe rely on the counter. Imagine going away from home and stunning the home team with incisive attacking play. Whether it be set plays or long range efforts or yet brilliant counter attacks, heap the home team with more problems than they can figure out. They’ll be chewing that till they run out of time.
We got the breakthrough via a counter attack initiated by a player I’m gradually falling in love with – Ifeanyi Ihemekwele. Ekene Awazie was right on hand to provide us the lead in the 30th minute. The only sad part to it is that the lead didn’t last long. Roughly ten minutes later, our hosts found their way back. Whether the defence or the goalkeeper, blame whoever you choose.
The second half played out with few chances for both teams. We did eventually have the ball in the opposition net again but the referee and her brothers thought it was offside. It did look interesting – the clip is on our Twitter timeline. The final touch was by a Bayelsa defender. Perhaps our player was interfering with play from an offside position. That jump by their goalkeeper though. Funny
An away point, not bad at all especially with the games on the horizon. 3 points on Sunday means we might level on points with them at the weekend. Rivers United though, I promised them one paragraph today. They’ve laughed and taunted everyone in their way so far. So seeing them hammered by Ikorodu United 2-0 was particularly pleasing.
A thought for Imama and Abia Warriors who lost at home to Heartland in Umuahia. The love relationship between the two teams is quite interesting. Heartland away is probably Abia Warriors favorite fixture. This time around, they got served at home, I’m pretty certain they will get their pound of flesh in Owerri in the return fixture.
For us, we take the precious away point and firmly set our sights our stronger hurdles ahead. Hopefully we have more legs returning back into the fold for those fixtures.
Back tomorrow
‘EnyimbaEnyi
