Sports
Coach Blames Management For Club’s Defeat
Monday Ojeamor, coach of Aru-Okem FC of Ajegunle, Lagos, has blamed the team’s exit from the ongoing Boska Football Cup on the management’s interference in the selection of players.
Aru-Okem FC were defeated by Amunike FC of Festac 0-2 at the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium, Lagos yesterday.
Amunike, who had two players sent off in the 18th and 43rd minutes of the game, were undaunted and scored in the 10th and 80th minutes.
Ojeamor told newsmen in Lagos that the players were not to blame for the defeat but rather the management for insisting that some unfit players be selected to play the match.
The coach accused the management of not giving him a free hand to manage the team.
“When the players are imposed on you, it is difficult to know how to utilise them to produce positive result.”
Ojeamor also attributed their defeat to the breakdown of the midfield which allowed their opponents to freely make incursions into their danger area.
He commended Orange Drugs Ltd, manufacturers of Boska Analgesic, for sponsoring the competition and giving the youths the opportunity to display their talents.
“Although we are out of the tournament, I am nevertheless happy that at least, some of my players who have not played on astro turf before had the opportunity to do so,” he said.
Moses Odion, a defender in Aru-Okem FC, also accused the team’s management of interference. This, he said, caused disharmony among the players.
“Some players played independent of the coach’s instructions because they were chosen by the team manager, thus we were not coordinated enough.
“And this affected our coordination and we were unable to utilise our advantage of playing against nine players,” he said.
David Etemire, coach of Amunike FC, told newsmen that they won in spite of being two men down due to the players’ intensive training and discipline.
Etemire said: “We have always had intensive trainings that paid off in our match against Aru-Okem despite been without two players.”
In another match, Norison FC of Surulere lost 4-6 to Olubodun FC of Ebute Meta in a penalty shootout after the game ended 1-1 at regulation time.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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