Real Sapphire FC will enter their second match in the new season of the Nationwide League One (NLO) with lots of confidence gained from their opening day 5-2 spanking of AS Racines.
This is an exuberant verdict from the club’s ecstatic coach, Abidemi Onaolapo (aka Barthez), who admitted he was thrilled with Saturday’s opening day victory at Maracana Stadium, Ajegunle, Lagos.
Although his opponents in Tuesday’s match day two fixture, Spartans FC, got a 5-0 win, which took them top of the table, Onaolapo is banking on more tactical tricks in his closet to see his team through to another victory.
He downplayed talk about a winning secret for his team, which produced Bayer Leverkusen of Germany rave of the moment, Victor Boniface, but insisted that they always try to get things right before each match.
He went on to attribute his side’s victory on Saturday to being able to convert their chances early in the game, which made them quickly settle down and pick more opportunities for the result that took them to second place on the NLO table.
The tactician fondly called ‘Coach Barthez’ added, “The game was not bad. The important thing is that we had our chances, and we converted them earlier. That’s what made the game easy for us.
“The opponents were not easy to handle, but we checked our drawing board very, very well before the game, and we planned our tactics. That’s what worked for us.
“There is no secret. There is no big deal. We only concentrate on the game and do the most important things. We always talk to the boys, motivate them, and show them the drawing board.
“We let them understand that this football can make them relevant and become someone big in future. We tell them you need to give your best on the field of play in any match so that you can be a better player.”
He concluded by charting a course into other matches they will play this season, starting against top placed Spartans on Tuesday at the same venue.
“The season just started, but the first match is important. Winning it gives the boys more confidence to proceed and get a good result at the end of the season,” Onaolapo projected.
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