As Match Day one of 2018/2019 Nigeria National League kicked off at different venues on Wednesday, the group B1 encounter between Shooting Stars Football Club and Abia Comets at Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan ended at one all draw.
The match started exactly at 3:55pm with great expectations from the fans of Oluyole Warriors having lost the promotion ticket to the elite division last season and dancing in the circle in the last 5 years.
Goals from Emmanuel Nelson of Abia Comets and Fatal Gbadamosi of Shooting Stars at 17th minute and 45′ minute was the high point of the encounter even though Rasheed Ahmed lost a penalty for Shooting Stars.
Speaking after the match, the head Coach of Abia Comets,Orji Bethel said we thank God we pick a vital point today as any team that fails to win his game at home in the abridged league is in big trouble.
In his words:
“We came here to win the game against Shooting Stars or at least to pick a point. Our game plan really worked for us as my players played to instructions. Although the rain did not allow my players to show their great artistry in the first half but they proved themselves better in the second half. This is the abridged league and any team that fails to win at home is in big trouble. We thank God we stopped Shooting Stars”. Orji Bethel concluded.
Also, the goal scorer for Oluyole Warriors and under 23 Midfielder, Fatai Gbadamosi on his part said he was happy he got the goal but the draw puts a sour taste to their ambition. He said, I felt terribly bad that we failed to win our first match but this is a football where unthinkable happens. We would go out to win our next match and get the club on the track.
Assistant Coach of the Oluyole Warriors, Yinka Popoola (aka Gullit) in his reaction said they were not happy with the results even though the players played to instructions but it was below standard. He appealed to the fans to be patient with the team and promises the team is ready to win on the road.
“Our players played to instructions but it was not to the standard really. Though,we didn’t not build this team on any player or striker because we believe anybody can score for the team. We sincerely apologise for what happened today but we would make up in our next match and pick 3 maximum points on the road” Coach Gullit assures.
A lot of reactions that trailed the disappointing performance of Oluyole Warriors was not good for the eyes to see. The angry fans pelted and stoned players with official bus of the Ibadan based Club at the very end through gate 3 and it took the timely response of the driver who quickly drove away, the story would have been different today.
Some of the die hard fans of Oluyole Warriors said: “we are tired of the performance of this club in the last few seasons.They have been dancing in the circle going and coming back in the last 5 years and it is the same story of the same” Wale Idowu lamented.
Also lamented was the Kelvin Adeoye, he said “how on earth would the coach leave such a striker, Rasheed Ahmed for the whole 90 minutes without impact. What have they achieved in the last 5 seasons for this club. This is very shameful parading average players every season and apologising without progress?
