Enyimba Must Get the Goalkeeper Right

Good day, my fellow lovers of the People’s Elephant!

We are already in August, the month that sets the ball rolling for another ten-month football league season. Pre-season activities are supposedly in full swing, although, as usual, the finer details have not yet found their way into the public domain.

So, we wait.

We wait to see the surprise rabbit Enyimba will eventually pull out of the hat before the season begins.

Today, however, our focus is on the first name on the team sheet.

Forget the star striker for a moment. Forget the talismanic captain and the midfielder expected to control proceedings. The first name should belong to the goalkeeper.

And no, it is not simply because goalkeepers traditionally wear the number one shirt. These days, some wear number 35, number 30 or even number two. The importance of the position goes far beyond the number printed at the back of the jersey.

The goalkeeper has evolved from being merely the last line of defence to becoming the first line of attack.

Modern goalkeepers are not judged only by their reflexes, quick hands or ability to stop shots. The very best must also possess fast feet, sharp decision-making and the confidence to rush off their line to stop what appears to be a certain goal.

This aspect of goalkeeping may not always receive enough attention in the NPFL, perhaps because of the uncertain conditions of playing surfaces across the country. Nobody wants his goalkeeper attempting Ederson-style passes on a pitch where the ball can suddenly change direction after hitting a patch of sand.

However, what can no longer be ignored is the growing involvement of goalkeepers in general team play.

Retaining possession, recycling the ball and distributing it properly have become essential parts of both defensive and attacking football. The days of collecting the ball and launching a wild kick towards nobody in particular should be disappearing.

A goalkeeper must know when to slow the game down, when to release the ball quickly and when to help his team play out from the back.

Beyond the physical qualities, mental strength is non-negotiable.

There is no room for persistent self-doubt in goalkeeping. The mental aspect of the position ranks just as highly as the physical because confidence, decisiveness and composure all come from psychological strength built over time.

The confidence of a goalkeeper gives security to his defenders and spreads through the entire team. On the other hand, any sign of fear or indecision can create panic in a defence that was previously comfortable.

Enyimba’s legendary goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, was the perfect example of calmness and confidence under pressure.

Perhaps his experiences with the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup helped build that aura of near invincibility around him. Whatever the source, his confidence transmitted itself to the defenders in front of him and played a major role during Enyimba’s golden era.

Last season, Enyimba prosecuted the campaign with four goalkeepers: Kelvin Ogunga, Anozie Chinedu, Dare Dede and Miracle Ukadike.

Ogunga started 27 of the club’s 38 league matches and conceded 27 of the 42 goals Enyimba allowed during the season. That works out at roughly one goal per game.

In isolation, that is not a terrible return. It might even have looked better had the players at the other end of the pitch remembered that scoring goals was also part of the assignment.

Ogunga also recorded ten clean sheets and saved three penalties during the league campaign, although one of those penalties was eventually converted from the rebound. Still, he deserves credit for making the initial save.

His season was not flawless. There were good performances, uncertain moments and mistakes that proved costly. But there was enough to suggest that Enyimba can build on what he produced rather than immediately throwing everything away.

The improvement must begin with his mentality.

As the saying goes, goalkeepers must not have memories. Whether it is an outstanding save or a horrible mistake, both must be forgotten almost immediately. The goalkeeper has to remain in the present, maintain his concentration and prepare for the next action.

One error cannot be allowed to become three errors because the goalkeeper is still replaying the first one inside his head.

Goalkeepers are not simply born; they are developed. That development comes through constant application in training. Matches merely test, under pressure, what has been learned repeatedly on the training ground.

The return of Nathaniel Asibe to the bench during Enyimba’s post-league Federation Cup matches also warmed the hearts of some supporters.

Asibe had been out for about eighteen months following an injury that kept him away for an entire season and a half. He made an immediate impression during his debut campaign, starting in goal during the 2024/25 season.

His penalty-saving heroics in the shootout victory over Burkina Faso’s Etoile Filante, which secured Enyimba’s place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage, quickly caught the attention of the Enyimba faithful.

He shared goalkeeping responsibilities with Ani Ozoemena until injury struck midway through the season and ruled him out for the whole of the following campaign.

Provided he remains under contract and can return to full fitness, Asibe should be capable of putting Ogunga under serious pressure for the number-one position.

And that is exactly what Enyimba needs.

No goalkeeper should enter a new season feeling that the shirt belongs to him regardless of his performances. Healthy competition should push both goalkeepers to improve their concentration, distribution, decision-making and consistency.

Of course, goalkeepers also require better protection from the outfield players. Even the best goalkeeper will struggle behind a defence that leaves the gate open every weekend.

Enyimba must therefore strengthen the entire defensive structure, not merely focus on the man wearing the gloves.

But before the goals, assists and beautiful attacking football, Enyimba must first get the goalkeeper position right.

Because every serious team begins with security at the back.

Enyimba Enyi!