The assistant coach of Sporting Lagos FC, Micah Bello, said on Tuesday that gaining maximum points during tough matches was more important in football games.
Bello said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of his side’s lone goal victory over the visiting Sunshine Stars of Akure.
NAN reports that the 2023–2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match Day 30 between the Tech Boys and Owena Whales was played in Lagos.
A header by new signing Paschal Durugbor was the match winner.
He rose above the Sunshine Stars defenders in the ninth minute to flick a ball into the net after receiving a delightful cross from teammate Ufere.
However, the tempo of the match changed in the second half as the Sunshine Stars came firing from all cylinders in search of a goal while the Tech Boys soaked up the pressure.
Sunshine Stars had a penalty call turned down in the second half—a decision that also irked their bench.
Responding to the difficulties his team encountered during the game, Noisy Lagosians assistant gaffer, Bello, gave credit to the ingenuity of Sunshine Stars coach, Kennedy Boboye.
He added that the team had to stick to its game plan.
“We already knew what we were into coming to the game, expecting that it would be tough given the vast knowledge of Sunshine Stars Coach Boboye.
“We knew he would definitely attack us with four strikers, so what else can we do? We decided to curtail the pressure and minimise our mistakes.
“It was a tough match for us, as well as for the Sunshine Stars, because we are chasing the same goal—we want to avoid fighting relegation to finish mid-table, just like them.
“It is more difficult for teams in the middle of the table fighting against relegation than for the top teams, so we needed to be careful.
Bello also said that achieving a maximum of points would help the team’s morale going against tougher opponents as the league is gradually winding down.
The Head Coach of Sunshine Stars, Boboye, in his reaction, described the game as a disappointment to them.
“It is disappointing that we lost, but what else can we do? We will have to go back home and re-strategize against other teams in the next few fixtures.
“It’s not that the players that I met at Sunshine Stars are not good enough, but some did not actually fit into my style of play.
“We will continue to try harder and improve in our next matches,” he said.
NAN reports that Sporting Lagos FC will face Katsina United FC in the Match Day 31 fixtures, while Sunshine Stars welcome the defending champions of the league, Enyimba International FC, to Akure. (NAN)
