2024 Optima Gold Cup: Osho restates readiness for Shooting Stars' onslaught

Posted : 22 August 2024

Fatai Osho has assured that his Association Sportive de la Vallée de l'Ouémé (ASVO) FC will give their best against Shooting Stars of Ibadan.

Osho revealed his pre-match routine ahead of the Optima Energy Gold Cup semi-final against the Oluyole Warriors at the Remo Stars International Stadium in Ikenne.

"I'm impressed with the transition in my team, coming from an opening-day defeat to a draw and a win in the final group game," he said.

"But, we cannot ignore the fact that we still have a lot of work to do to improve the team.

"Having a contest with Shooting Stars in the semi-final will help us as a team, as the Oluyole Warriors will expose our weaknesses and strengths, and on our part, we'll be ambitious.

"Once a team reaches the semi-final of any tournament and has a chance to win it, then such a team must give its best shot.

"ASVO FC will do that, as we aim to have another test against the defending champions Beyond Limits in the final if both teams qualify.

"We are looking forward to the Optima Energy Gold Cup final, as there is always a first time.

"In the last week of intense training and based on the players' performance in the matches we've played so far, I am highly encouraged. Playing in the final on Saturday would be the icing on the cake for us.

"My assistants and I will prepare the team mentally for Shooting Stars, with the mindset that anything is possible."

Regarding his team's progress in the preseason tournament, Osho said, "It has been a journey with mixed emotions but overall positive for the team. Finishing the final game against Kasam FA with a win, even with 10 men, says a lot about the team.

"In our first game against Beyond Limits, we started poorly; the conditioning was not there. We had to work extra hard on the players so they could compete. This hard work has manifested in the team as they can now play better with the ball as a unit and execute my tactical instructions on the pitch.

"The fitness level of my players is gradually improving. This is the only time we can overload them in training and still expect them to play.

On his absence from the dugout, Osho explained, "It is deliberate. It's a preseason tournament, and I want my assistants to handle most of the job on the touchline while I watch calmly and take notes on key observations about my players during matches."

Osho, a former coach of Akwa United, has assured ASVO FC fans that they will see his 'Sugar Ball' style when the Beninese season kicks off.

"No doubt about it, we will excel in that area with my free-flowing football. Practically, we have just two weeks to work as a unit, and to have a team where players can pass the ball to each other with their eyes closed, will take time."

2024 Optima Gold Cup: Osho restates readiness for Shooting Stars' onslaught

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