Happy New Year Everyone!

The End of Year Activities and Euphoria blindsided us to the fact that we had a game yesterday and thus we wrote everything but a Match Preview. Well, as it appears, we did have a rescheduled Premier League fixture as Bendel Insurance were in town.

The result needs no drumroll – it was expected. Or was it? I mean, it’s no longer a surprise for this team to etch out a draw, we have abundant of draws. I don’t have the stats but I think we may have played out more draws already than the average number we play per season. We cooked up another draw and as usual, a goalless one.

The game was also Stanley Eguma’s first game at the helm of things following the scapegoating of Coach Yema a few days ago. We’ve been advised to not refer to him as Wenger and we will desist from doing that. For me, it was quite surreal to actually see him in the dugout. A Testament to where we currently are as a club.

The game played out quite strangely and when at halftime, we hadn’t scored, I somehow felt we wouldn’t. The headlines will say Joshua Baba in the Insurance goal was the hero of the day but I will put those missed chances as down to poor finishing than glorious saves. Tame strikes, strikes straight at the goalkeeper, it was difficult to watch.

Daga did hit the crossbar in that first half and he was, for me, one of the most impressive on the day. We also did see our new signing Brown Ideye make a bow in the second half. And like all the other strikers before him, he got presented with a chance but he went narrowly wide. What a story that could have been.

The post game comments by both Eguma and Ideye were quite interesting. The sheriff said he would take the break to access the team as he only just resumed 48 hours prior. He gets the benefit of the doubt and I’m guessing it would be unfair to expect instant miracles with him just taking over the team. That said, it’s a little worrying that he had little or no visible impact.

Our grueling schedule offers no respite. Back-to-back CAF Confederation Cup fixtures against Black Bulls on Sunday and Al Masry a week later will be as severe a test as they come. Although both matches are at ‘home’, anything other than a positive result will intensify the pressure on the team. Hopefully we don’t get to that.

Guys, it’s a new year. A new opportunity to reset and get back on track. Let’s hope for the best for our Enyimba.