Coach Abdul Ibrahim of Spartan FC expressed his dismay after their closely contested 2-1 defeat against Valiant FC in their latest Nationwide League One encounter.
“The match began promisingly, but the outcome was a major disappointment for us,” Coach Ibrahim lamented during a post-match interview.
“We had hoped to maintain our momentum from previous victories, but unfortunately, things did not go as planned.” He told Sports 247.
“Yes, of course, they started well, as you said, and I was expecting it to end the way it started,” Coach Ibrahim admitted.
“But as you said, it’s a very big blow to us and entirely to the team, because I wasn’t expecting this defeat.”
Acknowledging his team’s underperformance, Coach Ibrahim emphasized the need for introspection and improvement moving forward.
“My boys did not play well, I must confess this,” he stated.
“But it’s a work in progress. We must go back and put our heads together, go back to the drawing board and see where we need to make some changes and touches.”
When asked about his communication with the players regarding the significance of the competition, Coach Ibrahim affirmed his efforts to instil a competitive mindset.
“Yes, I have spoken to them. You can see the first game we played, we were leading, we were topping the group because we won 6-1,” he explained.
“But all the same, we’ll still go back to the drawing board, we want to make some touches and corrections.”
Regarding the remaining fixtures, Coach Ibrahim anticipated surprises from opposing teams and emphasized the need for his players to remain vigilant and determined.
“Yes, I do expect surprises from the teams on the fixtures for our remaining matches,” he said.
“Football has changed, and you cannot underrate any team now. Every game that you play, you must come out fully with the determination of winning.”
Spartan FC won 6-1 in their first match and drew 2-2 in their next match.
With Coach Ibrahim’s remarks the team is committed to growth and resilience as they navigate through the ups and downs of the Nationwide League One campaign.
