… team shifts focus to hosting Doma Utd on Sunday
The coach of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin Greg Ikhenoba has attributed his team’s 3-1 loss to former League champions Akwa Utd to the lack of concentration of his defenders.
The soft-spoken coach Ikhenoba observed while speaking in a post-match interview at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium after the Matchday 25 game of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
‘I expected my boys to rise to the occasion but the reverse was the case. In football, every coach and team approach games with their strategy believing he is going to win but the result is determined in the field of play, and winning at that level depends on the mentality of the players.
“I won’t say that I am disappointed because that is football for you. I couldn’t believe conceding two goals within three minutes. We have a lot to take home from this game and prepare for our next game. I expected the host team to fight for their life and they did but unfortunately, my boys didn’t do enough,” Greg said.
In the NPFL Matchday 25 encounter, both teams matched themselves strength for strength, having a balanced game until the 22nd minute when Ubong Friday was left unmarked close to the 18-yard box when a loose ball came his way, shooting into the right corner to break the deadlock for his side.
Before the end of the celebration of Ubong’s breakthrough goal, sticky Sanni Suleiman made it 2-0 when Insurance left back Julius Emiloju’s short pass could not be reached by hardworking Useini Abdullahi, allowing the invading home side to take advantage, making Amas Obasogie helpless in between goal sticks for the second time within three minutes.
Insurance, afterward, did not relent as they took the battle to the gate of the hosts. Zaidu Ayuba registered his name on the scores sheet when he fired a sublime short-range strike a minute to half time stoppage whistle.
Recall that Akwa Utd went away with a goalless draw in Benin in the first-round encounter, gaining four points advantage against Insurance this season.
The Benin Arsenals with 34 points after 25 games, will be host to Doma Utd on Sunday in the Matchday 26 tie in Benin City.
