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Deji Ayeni blames ill luck for Akwa United loss at home to Bendel Insurance
By Saheed Afolabi
Head coach Akwa United, Deji Ayeni feels they were unlucky for their first home loss in the Nigeria Professional Football League opener as Akwa United bowed 2-0 to Bendel Insurance in Uyo.
First half goals from Imade Osehenkhoe and Ismael Seriki helped the newly promoted Benin Arsenal shock the 2021 NPFL champions to register opening day victory at the Godswill Akpabio stadium on Sunday.
And the tactician, who joined the former champions from rivals Sunshine Stars last season, insists the visitors were not better than his side as feels he feels they deserve a good result considering their fine display.
“Football is very dynamic, sometimes what you bargain for is not what you see, I think the first half, we were a bit naive, anxious to get things done,” Ayeni told media.
“It’s quite unfortunate that the two goals were mistakes that really cost havoc on the team and it been the first game and a lot of expectations here and there, we have a bad day today and Bendel Insurance got it right and I believe the league is still a marathon anything can still happen.
“We will go back to work on our mistakes and our second half was a bit better off as were able to play our philosophy but God of soccer wasn’t at our side.”
The hosts made numerous fight back attempts as they began to pile pressure on the defence of Insurance in the second half but the visitors held on solidly to their lead to celebrate a triumphant return to the topflight.
Despite the setback, the Akwa gaffer is optimistic they will get their acts right and get back on track in coming games.
“I’m a very positive person and I believe nothing is impossible, football is a game where you draw, you lose or you win and today we found ourselves on the loosing side,” he continued.
“Today’s match is not the end or anything that we can not be worried about, though it’s painful as a coach having trained the players for some months. I believe that we will bounce back.
“We have to go back to the drawing board to correct our mistakes and I need to be a father to the players and let them know that loosing the first game is not the end of the league, who says we can’t go away and get the three points at stake there, so that’s the game of football, I really felt for the game but there’s nothing we can do about it.”
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