Head Coach of Kwara United Football Club, Ijaya Lukmon has revealed that sealing the continental spot with the team was the highlight of his appointment midway through the season while also giving insight on the preparation level ahead of the packed season.
He made this known in an exclusive interview with Sports247 after a friendly 2-0 win against Tradesafe Sport earlier today.
Lukmon joined the Kwara based side while they were sixth on the log but ended the season fourth on the NPFL table to automatically seal continental football and will represent Nigeria.
He posited, “I will not say we are 100 percent ready, we are trying to see how we can build up the team, performance and checking to see who will fit in the best.”
“We want our players to settle down and mix with the old, acclimate with the playing patterns, we are trying to see more players we can bring in to better us.”
Concerning the friendly win against Tradesafe Sport, the coach was full of praise for his opponent, “I didn’t expect a tough match as this truthfully, when we started the match, I didn’t see anything tough, let’s just play. As the match progressed, the opponent garnered so much confidence and momentum.”
“I saw flashes of brilliance in the team, they are a very good team perhaps they are new but with time, this team will be up there.”
“It was surreal when I got wind that Kwara United will represent Nigeria in the continental, you know why? I took over the team when they were sixth on the log with the help of Coach Azeez who has been very helpful in terms of tactics and advises, it was as if I had a huge task to coach Madrid.”
“The task ahead of me was so huge, I had sleepless nights on players, formation to use. My thoughts were centered on improving the team’s position to second or third, I didn’t want to go below that sixth position I took over.”
“Fortunately for me, with the help of God, stakeholders, people around me and my backroom staff, we came fourth, such a massive one for us.”
“If we had fell below, we wouldn’t have gotten this opportunity to play continentals and I will even loose my job because I took over on 6th, not a bad place.”
“I am so happy that my first herculean assignment came out well and good, I was able to achieve something worthwhile.”
