Good day All,
The boys return home to plot how to discomfit Niger Tornadoes this weekend. Our trip to Barau carried plenty of hope, we even thought we could snatch a win, but it didn’t happen. Perhaps there’s a reason, let’s talk about it.
The Barau/Kano trip had its shortcomings, the biggest being the sheer number of new faces drafted straight into the starting XI. It’s no news that Enyimba signed heavily this term, but nobody expected so many first-timers in one lineup.
We had: Kelvin Ogunga (GK), Joel Ezra, Atule Joseph, Quadri Olasunkanmi, Edidion Ezekiel, Bright Amadi, Ufere Chinedu (C), Mohammed Hussaini, Agu Samuel, Molokwu Christian, and Bassey John. That’s about three familiar names and the rest all newbies.
My understanding is that management delayed unveiling the new players while awaiting Joma kits for the new season. Thankfully, the club has moved back from KK to Joma.
But back to the game; there was a mix-up with player registration. Some of the new boys weren’t adequately cleared, leaving them ineligible. A bad mistake. A rookie mistake. One that Enyimba, as an institution, should never make. Whoever dropped the ball must ensure it never happens again.
Imagine traveling two days only to realize you don’t have enough eligible players to fulfill the fixture. Unthinkable. I’m sure the message has been received.
On the field, a point isn’t the worst outcome. In a league where most away trips yield nothing, a draw is a fair consolation. Both sides had chances, but Ogunga, our new goalkeeper, seemed the busier of the two — and in that light, an away point doesn’t look so bad.
The bigger picture remains the same: the team must stay connected to its core mission. Return to the Continent. Return with trophies. It has been a while. The Chairman has talked tough, but it will take collective focus from him and everyone else to deliver on that promise.
Back tomorrow.
‘EnyimbaEnyi
