NPFL: Edith Agoye fumes over Rivers United’s negative antics against Sunshine Stars

By Saheed Afolabi

Sunshine Stars coach, Edith Agoye has expressed displeasure over the unsporting tactical approach of Rivers United in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw in a Nigeria Premier Football League encounter in Akure.

Ejike Uzoechi’s late effort from the spot six minutes from time rescued the hosts from defeat, cancelling Andrew Abalogu’s first half own goal to ensure both side shared the spoils at the Akure Township Stadium.

While rueing his side’s missed opportunities in the encounter, the tactician criticised the negative antics of the league champions to fustrate the hosts in bid to force a stalemate.

“Rivers United are an experienced side, they have been playing very well in the league but I’m a bit disappointed in their delay tactics, football is for fans to come and enjoy, the way they played in the second half is not worthy of a Nigeria defending champions.

“For that, if they have been more open and have come out to play, if they are not delaying or falling down unnecessarily, we would have had a winner today either they win or we win but the end of the day we take a point from the position of defeat, we will take that and go for our next game and try to concentrate.

“If you look at the game very well, we were ontop of the game, we are much more in control of the game, we were getting chances here and there, half chances, which we didn’t convert, if we would have scored one, it would have turned the tide to our favor.”

The Owena Whales are winless in two matches,drawing against Doma United before sharing the spoils at home against the Cup holders Rivers United and the former 3SC coach has blamed loss of concentration from his side.

“For me I think it was two point lost, I think we lost two points today, looking at the game in the first half and second half considering the number of chances we created and the fact, we have to rely on penalties to score it was not encouraging,” he continued said.

“The players were a bit nervous, loss of concentration here and there, so we had to change the shape in the midfield so that we could keep the ball a bit more and I think when we did that, we came back strongly into the game.

“We lost two vital points at home today, we have to go back and re-strategize go to Awka and fight for the three points at stake. We cannot afford to lose in Awka. We will put in everything we have in the game in Awka and make sure we come back with the points.”