“He that is down needs fear no fall” is a line from a popular hymn, and it aptly captured the mindset of many Enyimba FC fans going into the Matchday 6 encounter against Kano Pillars in Kano. After our worst start to a season in recent history, nothing could be worse than sitting 20th on the league table with zero points after four matches. There was no unbeaten run to preserve, no clean sheet streak to protect, and certainly no reputation left to defend. All we wanted was for the team to show some fight, ambition, and a willingness to turn things around.
The only positive about hitting rock bottom is that there is nowhere lower to go. Sometimes, reaching ground zero offers a strange kind of freedom: the freedom to take risks, fight without fear, and begin the journey back up. But considering the status of Kano Pillars compared to the four teams that had already beaten us home and away, the trip to Kano hardly looked like a likely place to find respite. We had shaved our heads in anticipation of a possible jail term, and the journey to Kano felt like walking straight into the prison yard.
Kano Pillars and Enyimba FC flirted with relegation last season, and both clubs made mid-season changes to their technical benches in a bid to avoid the drop. That is where the similarities end. Armed with the bitter experience of being relegated in 2022 and spending a season away from the NPFL, Pillars adopted a more strategic approach to correcting the mistakes of last season. They did not cling to the fond memories of Mohammed Babaganaru’s previous stint, which had earned Sai Masu Gida successive league titles in 2012 and 2013. Instead, they turned to Daniel Ogunmodede, a coach with recent title-winning experience, retained some experienced players, and strengthened the squad with new additions.
In contrast, Enyimba continued from where they left off last season. From lingering administrative issues and the departure of experienced players to rewarding the coach who had previously saved the day and adding more quantity than quality to the squad, the club appeared to have learned very little from its recent struggles. The difference in the two clubs’ trajectories this season is becoming increasingly evident. Their respective approaches during the off-season are already yielding results, and the early standings reflect the seeds sown before the campaign began.
Yet, despite the obvious gulf in preparation and current form, Enyimba’s spirited goalless draw in Kano showed that there is still life in this team. The performance offered a reminder that the players have something to give, provided the distractions bedevilling the club are swiftly addressed and the team is allowed to focus on the job at hand.
From a fan’s standpoint, I travelled to Kano with little or no expectation of a positive result. But once the match kicked off, I found myself hoping for the best. As the game wore on, with temporary disruptions caused by strong winds at the venue, I held on to the last remaining threads of hope that something good might finally happen for us. The lengthy added time was particularly nerve-racking, as I waited with bated breath for the final whistle to confirm that we had secured a share of the spoils.
When it finally came, I celebrated. For the first time this season, Enyimba had given us something positive to hold on to. And I hope to see more of it going forward. That is the life of a football fan. You criticise the flaws in your team, question its decisions, and express your frustrations, yet you never stop hoping for a good outcome, even if it comes through sheer fortune.
The point earned in Kano is one of Enyimba’s rare positive results at the home of the northern aristocrats over the past two decades. It is, however, bettered by the memorable comeback victory in 2016, when Thankgod Ike smashed home a late winner in a thrilling 2-1 triumph. Last Sunday, goalkeeper Dare Dede took centre stage and deservedly claimed the Man of the Match accolade for his heroics between the sticks, keeping out everything thrown at him at the Sani Abacha Stadium. His performance not only secured a valuable point but also intensified the competition for the goalkeeping position.
The result in Kano will mean much more if we can build on it with a home victory against Shooting Stars in tomorrow’s rescheduled Matchday 2 fixture, which will also bring our September schedule to a close.
3SC will arrive in Aba with some familiar faces, most notably their head coach, Salisu Yusuf, one of the most experienced managers in the NPFL. Yusuf remains fondly remembered in Aba for leading Enyimba to the Federation Cup triumph in 2013. He will also be banking on another familiar face, Kalu Nweke, to compound the home woes of the People’s Elephant. Nweke’s two-year spell in Aba ended on a sour note at the conclusion of last season, and his return in the colours of Shooting Stars adds another layer of intrigue to the encounter.
It will be interesting to see how Enyimba responds at home after finally getting a point on the board through a creditable away draw. The performance in Kano has lifted the mood and raised expectations that the team can consolidate on that progress in Aba on Wednesday. But a point, however valuable, is only the beginning. We need to turn encouragement into results, and we need to do so quickly.
The boys have shown that they can fight. Now, they must show that they can win.
It’s showtime again. Let’s do it!
Enyimba Enyi!
