Imama demands winning start as Abia Warriors face Kun Khalifat in NPFL derby

Abia Warriors technical adviser Imama Amapakabo says his team are ready to begin the new Nigeria Premier Football League season and has stressed the need for a strong opening when they host Oriental rivals Kun Khalifat FC on Sunday.

The former Super Eagles assistant coach believes a positive start is essential in a 38-game campaign and wants his players to build momentum from the opening weeks.

“To say we’re not prepared would be unthinkable. I believe Abia Warriors are as prepared as we can be for the season,” Imama told the club’s media.

Abia Warriors will begin their campaign at home in an Oriental derby, with Amapakabo telling his squad that securing an early victory must be a priority.

He compared the NPFL season to a 400-metre race, with the first nine matches representing the equivalent of the opening 100 metres.

“It’s always important to start on a good footing,” he explained.

“We’ve talked about it as players and as individuals. Everyone understands what it means to begin with a win.

“I break the season down. There are 114 points available in total. The first nine games are worth 27 points. We will see how many of those we can pick up and then build from there. But the key thing is to start well.”

Amapakabo now wants to see evidence that his players have absorbed his methods during pre-season when they face Kun Khalifat FC.

The coach said the match would provide an early indication of how effectively the squad can apply his ideas, particularly in attack.

“I want to see how well the players have imbibed my philosophy, how we play and how we execute,” he said.

“In the final third especially, I want to see better coordination.

“Converting chances was one big challenge for us in pre-season. It was also an issue for us last season, and correcting that is one of my main targets this season.”

Abia Warriors have lost several important players from last season’s squad and are in the process of rebuilding. Amapakabo acknowledged the need to integrate the new additions, especially in relation to the team’s defensive approach, but said the changes would not alter his attacking outlook.

“We lost a couple of players from last season’s squad, so we are rebuilding and trying to infuse our defensive philosophy into the new players,” he stated.

The technical adviser remains committed to an aggressive style of football and believes his team must focus on scoring more goals than their opponents.

“But my approach has always been clear. If you score 15 against me and I score 18, I will still win.

“I’m an attacking-minded coach. I tell the players all the time that I’m not afraid of losing, but I don’t want to lose. We will play my way.

“After the first nine games, we can assess where we are, where we are short and what we need to fix.”

The opening nine fixtures will give Amapakabo and Abia Warriors an initial opportunity to measure their progress, identify weaknesses and determine where further improvements are required. Their immediate focus, however, is on starting the season with victory against Kun Khalifat FC in Sunday’s derby.