Following First Bank FC’s 3-0 defeat to Ikorodu United in the semi-final of the Lagos State FA Cup, coach Gafar Muhammad has identified match rustiness as a contributing factor to their loss.
Read Also: Coach Danjuma Applauds Nasarawa Amazons’ Professionalism
Muhammad pointed out that unlike Ikorodu United, his team lacked regular match experience due to being out of season. “Compared to Ikorodu, Ikorodu is in season, they are in the league, they play week in week out, unlike us,” he explained.
The coach emphasized the importance of football administrators and stakeholders in ensuring uniformity in league schedules. He appealed for synchronized league start times across the country to enable all clubs to compete on equal footing. “That is where the football administrators, the stakeholders in the game, have to do a lot of work to make sure all the leagues start at the same time so that everybody can be on the same level,” Muhammad stated.
By addressing issues of match rustiness and implementing synchronized league start times, Muhammad hopes to see improved competitiveness and fairness across football competitions in the country.
