The head coach of Collins Edwin Sports Club, Edwin Uchechukwu Ugwu has downplayed his side’s opening day 5-1 loss to First Bank FC of Lagos in the third-tier Nationwide League One (NLO).
Read Also: Nigeria Secures Hosting Rights for 2024 Davis Cup Africa Group II Qualifiers
Rather than fret over what observers at Maracana Stadium, Ajegunle, Lagos described as an embarrassing defeat, Ugwu simply said it was something he is already used to.
He stated as much due to what he recounted as their repeated defeats in every single first match over the past four seasons, including one in which they lost two games on the trot.
The jocular gaffer, however, blamed inexperience for his side’s massive defeat by The Elephant Boys and predicted that The Gladiators from Surulere will soon bounce back and go top of the table.
“It’s something we’ve now become used to,” Ugwu sounded relaxed, as he began in an offhanded manner.
“We’ve become used to losing all our first matches in the league. This is the fourth season it’s happening, but don’t be surprised to see us on the top tomorrow. That’s the way it is with us.
“If you trace us back to 2021, our first game in Ikenne, we lost 2-1 to Valiant. In 2022, we lost our first two games, and, in 2023, we slso lost the first. We’ll still rally round at the end of the day to do well in the league.”
He went on to pick positives from the heavy defeat, with a view that it is better to lose by such a wide margin on the opening day, then recover to do better in the long run.
“I’m even happy it happened now, because the players have now seen it, and they now know what to do for better results.
“At no point should you take your foot off the pedal … you just have to keep working hard.
“They’ve also learnt that there’s a big difference between friendly match and league. Most of my players here have never played in the league before. I’m sure they will learn from this and bounce back shortly,” Ugwu concluded affirmatively.
