HEAD Coach of Kogi United, Ishaya Jatau has commended his
players for their display during the team’s goalless draw against FC Yarmalight
in a Week 5 of the Nigeria National League, NNL encounter at the Pantami
Stadium in Gombe on Sunday.
The former Inwanyanwu Nationale noted that Kogi United
were the better side and could have won the match.
He said United would consolidate on the hard earned point
adding that he would make amend with little lapses noticed from the match.
"I'm excited with my players performance, I'm
surprised with the way they play despite the intimidation, but I've got the
believe in them, though they took it beyond expectation especially in the last
ten minutes," begins Jatau.
"I've always have that believe that we will get the
point on road because I've been lucky in all clubs I've coached to pick points
on the road, we have a team that can pull big surprise result in away games, I
will only implore our fans and supporters to be patient with the government,
the management and the team as we will continue to make them proud," he
said.
The tension soaked encounter saw United giving their
hosts a real fight and could have gotten a lead from Chindo Babangida when he
got a cross from Jerome on the right flank in the opening 12th minutes.
Yarmalight's danger man Danjuma Davisu tested Ogundare Detan on
numerous occasions haven seen their moves to United box cut off, but the lanky
goaltender was able to deal with the pressure and goal attempts at each time of
every moments.
The hosts' keeper Abubakar Abdul helped to keep
Yarmalight in the game after denying Chindo from converting United's best
chance of the half. The slippery midfielder was a yard ahead of his marker to
the box, he sent a powerful shot to Abdul who could make a punch to stop the
ball from going inside the net.
First half ended goalless as both sides went in
disappointed haven got a chance to score.
The second and final stage of the game saw exchange of
possession from both ends as Yarmalight employed more of long balls to
frustrate United defense but Detan- a product of Kwara Football Academy- was at
his best making wonderful saves for United.
Chindo, again, won the best chance for United in the
second half when Iwuji sent in a cross from left but the midfielder's effort
went off target to the surprise of all at the stadium who expected the ball in
the net.
Countless number of set pieces were awarded to the hosts
inside Kogi United's half, it was Davisu who always initiate them but the
defense, including Detan dealt with them till the centre referee Nurudeen
Mohammed from Bauchi brought the game to an end which resulted to the
Confluence Boys' first point on the road this season.
Kogi United with six points will next host Katsina United
on Saturday in Lokoja.
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