…At the end, no surprises really!
Yesterday was our first home game of the season, and initially, it felt like the stands were going to be as empty as a Monday morning bus in Aba. But little by little, fans trickled in, filling some sections, reminding us that there’s still a lot of work to be done to get our home crowd back to full throttle.
For those who sacrificed their last few business deals to cheer on the Elephants, those first 20 minutes were pure magic. Yema made some bold moves – sticking with Asibe in goal, pairing the unpredictable Innocent Gabriel with new boy Moses Adukwu in defense, and giving home debuts to Divine Ukadike and Clinton Jephtha. Alongside them were Ufere Chinedu and Fatai Abdullahi, ready to wreak havoc on Lobi Stars.
It didn’t take long. First, Uwana Asuquo delivered a free-kick that found Ufere Chinedu, who calmly put us in front. Then, Eze Ekwutoziem went on a daring run, drawing a foul in the Lobi box. He coolly slotted home the penalty, and we were cruising 2-0.
But football has a way of pulling you back to reality. Lobi Stars, with their veteran duo of Solomon Kwambe and Orji Kalu, weren’t going down without a fight. They tightened up, and by the time Waheeb Adebayo netted their only goal of the season (so far), we were all reminded that “coulda, woulda, shoulda” doesn’t count in football. A 4-0 walkover? Not today.
The second half was more of a chess match, with Yema and Agagbe constantly adjusting their pieces. Akanni and Ihemekwele brought some spark off the bench, but Jephtha couldn’t quite finish off a perfect chance from Ihemekwele. The half ended in a tactical battle with no further goals, but we held firm for a solid win.
So, Yema and the boys remain unbeaten in all competitions, but now the real test awaits. This weekend, it’s a trip to Port Harcourt to face our old gaffer, Finidi George. Expect emotions to be running high – let’s hope it’s the kind that leads to an away victory.
The truth is, apart from Asibe, no one can confidently say they’ve locked down a starting spot under Yema. His style is clear (though more goals would be nice), but he’s still figuring out which players can execute it to perfection. Hopefully, as the season progresses, we’ll see some consistency in the starting XI.
Oh, and for those who had their bets on who would score first at home… sorry, Chinedu Ufere’s surprise strike probably caught you off guard! Better luck next time. Keep an eye out – more challenges might be on the horizon.
It’s Thursday, and preparations for the weekend’s showdown begin now. Bring on Port Harcourt!
Enyimba Enyi!
