It’s the second day of the month, and the joy from our nascent unbeaten run remains fresh in our minds.
Victory tasted different. As our first of the season, it brought a kind of excitement that had been missing for far too long. A visitor to our last home game would probably have wondered whether it was the same crowd or an entirely different set of fans. That is the kind of atmosphere good results can create around a football club. Repeated defeats bring a cloud of gloom and confusion, and the only way to dispel it is through consistent, heartwarming performances.
A point on the road in Kano, followed by a good home victory against recent continental campaigners Shooting Stars, has given us something to build on. Now comes a home game against high-flying Plateau United.
A win would further boost the team’s morale and confidence while sending the supporters into another level of ecstasy. We are yearning for that Enyimba feeling we have become so accustomed to over the years — that familiar nostalgia of continental nights, trophy celebrations and the superior weekly banter we dish out to those who see themselves as our contemporaries. We know they are only chasing a pie in the sky.
But with these baby steps we have taken over the last few days, the next step should be consolidation. We must not get carried away and lose our focus. The job is far from done. To be extremely honest, four points from a possible 18 is less than 23%, and that tells us everything we need to know. Yes, things appear to be turning around, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
That is the mindset we expect from the team right now. The good point in Kano and the good victory over 3SC must be put aside. The next match is the only thing that matters.
Plateau United must be disunited on the pitch. We need to create chances, take as many of them as possible and thwart whatever they throw at us. More importantly, we must begin the process of making teams genuinely uncomfortable about coming to Aba. Enyimba’s home must once again become a place where opponents arrive knowing they have a serious battle on their hands.
The next steps are simple: keep the team compact, keep collecting points and keep the trajectory moving in the right direction. We cannot afford to rest on our oars. We are still nine points behind the league leaders, and whether you like it or not, that position is more of our birthright than it is not.
The revival has only just begun. The next step is to consolidate it.
It is time to take the next steps.
Enyimba Enyi
