Good morning!
We all agree that the just-concluded season gave us plenty of talking points, but this post-season series will focus solely on what happened on the pitch—where we, the fans, get to see all the action unfold. Maybe later, we’ll get into the other dramas.
Yesterday, we talked about our safest hands—the goalkeepers. But sitting (or should I say standing) just in front of them are our defenders. These guys are the wall of every team, and as they say, the stronger your wall, the safer your city.
We started the season with a lot of tinkering in this department and also ended it that way. Maybe it was due to the schedule or the nature of the opposition. But one name stayed constant throughout—Pascal Eze. Rock solid, no-nonsense, fiercely committed—and sure, not without flaws.
While we can’t yet compare him to a prime Ifeanyi Anaemena (yes, the real Enyimba Anaemena—not the current one. IYKYK), Pascal showed this season that he could be a proper, brutal bully at the back. He also added something new—more willingness to advance with the ball.
Personally, I’ve always believed that a good defensive partnership needs a balance of ice and fire. That’s what brings calm and control to a backline. Defenders aren’t necessarily calm types like midfielders who orchestrate with finesse. Defenders often have to fight—legally—with attackers. And in our squad, I think only Somiari Alalibo and Innocent Gabriel brought the “ice.”
Alalibo started the season as our captain but ended it with a contract termination. We won’t get into that today, but one thing’s clear—he brought calmness to any partnership. His pairing with Pascal, on their day, was soothing for any fan. No panic, just structure.
As for Innocent, I’ve often wondered why every coach he’s met here seems to like him. Although mostly used as a fullback, he showed this season that he can slot into a central role comfortably. Now, the average fan might think he looks jittery or sometimes even complacent, but his consistent selection says otherwise. One coach once told me that the reason Innocent gets so much criticism is simple: his critics are anything but coaches.
Beyond Pascal, we had other firebrand central defenders: Chikamso, the new Afolayan Peters, Moses Adukwu, and a few others.
But with Alalibo gone and Innocent more of a fullback (and occasionally even a defensive midfielder), I believe we need to sign a calm, intelligent centre-back. Calm defenders are often the smartest ones. It’s all about balance: two fires at the back is reckless; two ices is too passive. The right combo makes the unit unpredictable and solid.
Also, I believe we need more stability in our central defence. Too much tinkering disrupts rhythm, especially between the backline and the goalkeeper. Of course, this is football—not arithmetic—so I’ll leave the final say to the coach. That’s what he’s paid to do: choose the best legs and get the job done.
Tomorrow, we’ll look at the fullbacks. Until then—
Enyimba Enyi!
