2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 4: Enyimba coach Olanrewaju blames minor mistakes for defeat against Rivers United

Posted : 30 September 2024

Two goals in either half from Ubong Friday at the 15th minute and Seiyefa Jackson at the 86th minute condemned Enyimba FC to their first loss in the 2024/25 NPFL season.

Coach Finidi George with the result got one over his former Assistant, Coach Yemi Olanrewaju, in their first official/league encounter.

The Rivers United Gaffer expressed happiness over the victory but acknowledged it wasn't an easy one, as he pointed out that Enyimba controlled most of the game much to his liking but for the luck they (Rivers) had with the goals.

He praised the young players in his team for combining well during the build-up to the second goal, especially the scorer, Jackson, noting that he believes in working with young talents even while he was at Enyimba.

The People's Elephant Gaffer, Coach Yema, in his reaction said his side lost a game they didn't deserve to lose but that they must move on to the next game.

While noting that they don't have any excuses, Coach Yema meanwhile praised his boys for taking the game to their opponents, especially during the second half.

He said they weren't aggressive enough in the first half, which he noted cost them the first goal, and just as they pressed for an equalizer, the second happened via a counter-attack late in the game.

"In the first half, I think we weren't aggressive enough. I know him (Finidi) like he knows me too, and I tried to pick his brain, and he did the same too.

"We tried to play 3:5:2 today to put pressure on their defense to force them to always play the long balls, and as predicted, that's where they got the first goal because we didn't pick the second balls, and the wing-back didn't stand well.

"For me, overall, we didn't play very well, likewise them, just that we didn't create enough chances. They didn't really create anything except for those runoff plays they scored from, and that's football for you. You win some and lose some. But we have moved on to the next game."

Coach Yema also noted that his team missed the services of some of his regulars, including Daniel Daga and Clinton Jephta, who are both with the national U-20, Elijah Akani, Umor Obot, Asukuo Uwana, Somairi Alalibo, among others.

He noted that his team, after losing eight important players and bringing in 21, will get better with the games, even as they play five games in two weeks both in the domestic and continental encounters, that fatigue must set in, as he called on fans to continue standing with the team.

Both Gaffers, however, found time to express mutual respect for each other, dismissing any rivalry between them as it was just a game and their job.

Finidi praised and wished Coach Yema, Enyimba players, and the Management well for making it to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup, urging them to work it out in how to navigate the games.

Enyimba will next take on Akwa United on Wednesday at the Enyimba Int'l Stadium, Aba, in a rescheduled NPFL Match days 3 encounter.

2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 4: Enyimba coach Olanrewaju blames minor mistakes for defeat against Rivers United

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