One of the responsibilities of owing a daily blog for your favorite football team is to try to make some sense on days where like today, you’d rather do something else or just focus on something else that makes you happy. Not being here and trying to make sense of it all.
After watching that lifeless stalemate against Sunshine Stars, I’m struggling to find anything “good” about the morning. Let’s be honest—yesterday’s game was the football equivalent of watching paint dry. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the lads conspired to put us all to sleep.
Nathaniel Asibe was the only bright spot, a one-man wall who deservedly walked away with my Man of the Match award. Daniel Daga and Pascal Eze also showed some grit, but the rest? Well, let’s just say wearing the Enyimba badge shouldn’t be an entitlement—it’s a privilege. Innocent Gabriel continues to prove my doubts right at center-back, and the less said about Divine Ukadike and Francis Odinaka playing musical chairs in defense, the better.
The midfield was barely present, with Kalu Nweke ghosting through the first half so effectively I thought he hadn’t been subbed on yet. Meanwhile, our attack was a comedy of errors: Ifeanyi Ihemekwele looked spent, Austin Onyemaechi was unreliable as ever, and Ekene Awazie seemed to have left his spark in Aba traffic. The bench wasn’t much of a lifeline either—shadow-of-himself Atule, back-to-goal Balogun, and half-form Sariki weren’t exactly saviors.
Now, Coach Yema, it’s time for some tough love. Trust is great, but loyalty to underperforming players isn’t. If your starters are dragging the team down, it’s time to reshuffle the deck. And while we’re at it, let’s address the whispers of division in the camp. If there’s discord among players or staff, it’s your job to play peacemaker. A fractured house doesn’t just crumble—it collapses spectacularly.
Management, you’re not off the hook. Enyimba is Nigeria’s pride, a club that once ruled Africa. But look around: a bloated squad of 44 players, yet we struggle to field a solid XI. This isn’t about signing over-the-hill stars for headlines; it’s about building a team of committed, disciplined professionals who understand what it means to don the blue jersey.
And let’s not forget the date. Twenty years ago, Enyimba won our second CAF Champions League title. That wasn’t luck; it was the result of hard work, passion, and unity. If there’s ever a time to channel that energy and restore our glory, it’s now.
Mozambique awaits on Sunday, and frankly, this club needs to show up like the Enyimba we know and love.
Enough excuses. Enough lethargy. Let’s roar again.
