It’s a beautiful Saturday in Aba, typically one of those in-between days when the skies can’t decide whether to shine or pour. The rainy season is packing its bags, but not without leaving behind a few dramatic scenes. So whether you’re stepping out under the sunshine or dodging a surprise drizzle, just remember, it’s all part of the balance that makes the day perfect.
Speaking of perfection, nothing makes a matchday more perfect than a convincing victory. The kind that puts a smile on every fan’s face and hushes every critic in one swoop. A solid win can paper over cracks, rewrite narratives and turn ordinary performances into hero stories. And let’s be honest, nothing makes that victory feel sweeter than goals. Goals change everything. They are the heartbeat of football, the moment every cheer, chant and clap is waiting for. But lately, we’ve not had enough of them to go around.
Yes, we’ve seen flashes, including that fine run of five goals in two matches, which was our brightest spell so far this season. But overall, our finishing has been more frustrating than fruitful. The chances have come in bits and bursts, we’ve watched Nweke and his mates thread passes, make runs and stretch defenses, only for that final touch or decisive ball to let us down. It’s not that we’re not trying, it’s just that the goals seem to have gone shy.
It would be unfair to heap all the blame on the strikers though. John Bassey, since walking straight into the starting lineup from Heartland, has shown glimpses of intent even if the goals haven’t arrived yet. Chidera Michael on the other hand appears to have a strange relationship with the bench as he has only scored when he starts there. Football’s mysteries, right?
Injuries haven’t helped our cause either. Two of last season’s top scorers, Joseph Atule and Ifeanyi Ihemekwele, have barely featured. Their absence has left a visible void in our attacking power. Some may question the strength of our new signings, but Joseph Abiodun has put in a decent shift on the flanks. His numbers may not scream Golden Boot, but they whisper reliable, and that counts for something in a league as unpredictable as the NPFL.
For Coach Eguma, probably the biggest headache yet is how to turn all that creative effort into end product. Maybe the answer lies in our attacking midfielders getting more daring, arriving late in the box or even taking more long-range shots like Nweke loves to do. Whatever the formula, one thing is clear, our scoring struggles have to be fixed and fast. That inability to finish strong arguably cost us in Owerri.
Still, there’s hope. We’ve seen the effort, the hunger and the desire. The defensive discipline is there; now it’s time to balance the scales. Once the goals start flowing again, everything else will fall neatly into place.
Tomorrow’s another battle, another chance to set things right. Let’s make it count and make it loud.
Back tomorrow.
EnyimbaEnyi 💙
