....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
Heartland’s technical adviser, Emmanuel Amuneke, reflected positively on his team’s performance despite their 3-2 loss to Plateau United at the New Jos Stadium in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Sunday.
He pointed out that a lapse in concentration contributed to the defeat, but expressed confidence in the team’s continued development in the 2024-2025 NPFL season.
Amuneke acknowledged the skill displayed by Plateau United, emphasizing that both teams played well throughout the match. “It was a very interesting game, and we must commend Plateau United for leveraging their strengths to secure the victory,” he remarked in a post-match interview.
He added, “We scored some excellent goals, but unfortunately, we lost our focus at critical moments during the game.”
Highlighting the long-term perspective, Amuneke stated, “This is football, and we are committed to continuous growth. The league is like a marathon; our focus remains on identifying areas for player development and improvement.”
Finidi George Blames Defensive Error
Rivers United’s technical adviser, Finidi George, analyzed his team’s 1-0 loss to the reigning NPFL champions, Rangers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, attributing the goal conceded to a defensive error.
He pointed out that Chinemerem Ugwueze’s strike for Rangers highlighted a need for better concentration in set-piece situations, especially from throw-ins.
“I felt it was a decent performance overall; however, we didn’t capitalize on our scoring opportunities,” Finidi commented after the match. “We had several chances before the goal and I had expected our strikers to convert them, but that didn’t transpire.”
Following the defeat, Rivers United slipped to second place but remains focused on bouncing back and improving.
Shooting Stars Coach Happy With Slim Win
Shooting Stars head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, expressed pride in his team’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sunshine Stars at the Remo Stars Stadium on Saturday, marking their first away win of the season. After facing setbacks in their earlier derbies against Ikorodu City and Remo Stars, Ogunbote emphasized the importance of this win.
“This victory is a significant relief after several challenging matches,” he shared. “Having played three derbies, we knew it was crucial to secure points. I’m pleased we finally achieved this, and it’s a testament to the hard work put in by the team.”
Shooting Stars now turn their attention to their next league match as they prepare to host Kano Pillars.
