Ikorodu City will aim to consolidate on their ascent out of relegation zone in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) when they battle Katsina United in their next game.
Although they will be away in the MatchDay 11 encounter this weekend, Ikorodu City’s enterprising midfielder, Olatunji Abdulmalik believes they can leave Katsina with at least a point.
His confidence is boosted by his side’s shock 3-2 win last time out against table-topping Rivers United of Port Harcourt.
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The victory ended The Garden City side’s unbeaten run so far this season and helped their Ikorodu-based hosts climb out of relegation zone on the NPFL log.
Abdulmalik told Sports247 afterwards that sheer determination and perfection of new tactics helped Ikorodu City carry the day.
He pointed out, “It was a tough game, but we came into it to try and perfect what we had not been doing in our past matches.
“We had been quite unlucky in past games. So, we had to do something better this time.
“We are thankful that we were more clinical in the second half, and we were able to win the game.”
Aside from zeal and desire, Abdulmalik also pinpointed some technical points that gave his side maximum points against their better rated visitors.
“We approached this game from the point of view of just trying our best. We set out to win our tackles, win our duels and pick our chances.
“All of that we were able to do, and we were able to get the win. We just have to keep working, no relaxations,” he conceded.
Abdulmalik then looked ahead to the next match and parried all talk about pressure mounting on him and his colleagues; even as he admitted that it would not be an easy task to return home with a point.
“We don’t usually focus on external pressure. We tend to believe in ourselves and put off pressure from us.
“If it is internal pressure, though, it is nice, because you are able to control it. Every game is quite the same for us,” Abdulmalik theorised.
He then concluded with specifics about the upcoming game, with a verdict that he and his colleagues must quickly stop their celebrations so that they can focus fully on the next task ahead of them.
“It’s a very tough league. So, we have to keep working hard. We can’t keep our focus on just this win; because now it’s in the past.
“Now, we have to prepare for our next game, which is versus Katsina. We will try to do well and get a point in that game as well,” Abdulmalik asserted.
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