Uchechukwu Ugwu, Collins Edwin head coach has praised his players mentality and discipline after they secured four wins on a bounce conceding that they started the NLO 2022/2023 in an underwhelming manner which saw them lose three games in a row.
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The wining run started route the 2-1 win against Crime Fighters and the team has since gone on to win every game since then with their latest victory coming in the 3-1 win against Valiant FC at the Surulere Legacy Pitch yesterday on matchday seven of the B1 group fixtures.
Speaking in his post match assessment with Sports247.ng, a delighted Uche lauded the team for putting in such a shift after a woeful run at the beginning of the season.
“I work with these boys on daily basis and I have never doubted their talents, my only problem was bringing then at this stage and weren’t really good at the beginning.”
“But we have been able to work on their psychology, getting them to understand that it is still the same football they play everyday and I knew that once they start firing, it’s all about confidence which makes it impossible to stop them.”
“We scout them well and apart from the scouting, we have learnt something about this business and it’s sentiment and if you aren’t sentimental in your selection of players and giving them opportunities, you will find out that there is a lot that you can gain from this boys.”
“For me, it doesn’t matter where you come from, as long as you can play, I will give you the chance to play football,” Ugwu emphasized.
Intervening in the need for some key players for the national team set-up who has not been properly replaced since they retired from international duties, the tactician disclosed crucial issues that should be worked on before such can be done well.
“What is slowing us down in this Nigeria is sentiment, you must know the coach, and somebody that knows the coach for you to be able to produce players into the national team and it’s not helping us.”
“There are some good players in this NLO, we have seen some. Even Zenith Emperor who are winless have a good striker that can be very exclusive if well harnessed.”
“If you come today and can play better than who has been there for two years, you play and won’t be asked to wait for your time because you are just coming, no.”
“The solution is regional, you do for the Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, Northwest and you will bring the best to come and compete together, let the national team coaches make the selection from there.”
On the team’s preparation before the game against an in-from Valiant FC who ended Admiralty FC unbeaten run in the league;
“Anytime we play against a team that likes keeping the ball, I’m never afraid of we not doing well because there are few teams that can keep the ball better than us at this grassroot level, that has always been our emphasis, our style of play.”
“So I knew they were going to be overconfident after wining against Admiralty FC and we needed to puncture that confidence a little bit and they will crumble and that’s what happened,” Ugwu explained.
