First Bank FC of Lagos is set to prove all critics wrong and excel in the second-tier National League (NNL).
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This is the down-to-earth verdict of a rival coach, Jay Uche, whose team placed third in the final table in Lagos zone A of the Nationwide League One (NLO).
First Bank will be joined by second placed Real Sapphire FC in their group and Ojodu City FC from Lagos zone two in the quest for promotion to the NNL via the NLO Super-6, while Colin Edwin misses out.
However, rather than allow envy or pride to distort his analysis of the season, Coach Uche admitted that his team did not make the cut because they did not play well enough.
He went on to applaud all qualifiers for the Super-6, but singled First Bank out as the side most likely to justify their qualification and could go all the way back to the NNL due to their financial might.
Uche declared at length: “It’s been a tough one, and an eye opener for us, especially the players. I won’t really say it was successful for us, but I also won’t say we failed. At least our objectives were met somehow, but we need to fight hard again next season.
“If First Bank qualify, I know they have the financial backing to do well at that level. They have been there before, and that is even where they belong ordinarily.
“As for Ojodu City and Real Sapphire, I don’t really know their foundation. I can’t really tell what they’ll do at that level. They have to compete against government teams and teams that have experience in being there.
“It’s actually difficult in the NNL. See how Trade Safe struggled there this season; but I wish whoever qualifies the best of luck.”
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