Imama Amapakabo – Technical Adviser of NPFL side, Abia Warriors, has claimed that two of his goalkeepers at the Aba side, Vincent Edafe and Olorunleke Ojo, are the best in the Nigerian top flight, Completesports.com reports.
Amapakabo is a former Nigeria junior international goalkeeper who won the 2016 NPFL title as Enugu Rangers coach, and went on to handle Nigeria’s Olympic team, U23 Eagles.
Thrilled by his shotstoppers’ performances so far in the current NPFL campaign, Amapakabo sounds emphatic that the Umuahia Warriors are ‘blessed’ to have the best goalkeepers in the league.
Despite the presence of Super Eagles goalkeepers; an uncapped John Noble (with Enyimba); 21-cap Ikechukwu Ezenwa who is also a 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medalist with U23 Eagles, an ex U-20 Eagles goalkeeper and Super Eagles AFCON 2019 bronze medalist); Chijioke Ejiogu ‘Arugo Monkey’ – also capped by Eagles, still plying his trade in the domestic scene with Heartland), as well as Theophilus Afelokhai – also capped by the senior national team, now on the payroll of Rivers United, Amapakabo still picked out his Abia Warriors shotstoppers, Olorunleke Ojo and Vincent Edafe as the best goalkeepers presently in the local league.
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Amapakabo spoke after his young goalkeeper Vincent Edafe put up another sterling performance in the Abia Warriors’ NPFL Matchday-27 2-0 win over Lobi Stars at their makeshift home ground, Okigwe Township Stadium.
Buoyed by Edafe’s stats in the last five games in which he let in only a goal, Amapakabo heaped praises on the young goal tender.
“Well, we are blessed. I think the team is blessed to have goalkeepers of that (Olorunleke’s) quality and calibre. Olorunleke Ojo – one of the best in the league and Vincent Edafe too,” Amapakabo told Completesports.com.
“Olorunleke had an injury and Edafe came in and he has been standing tall. Leke has to wait for his time because in the first round, he did very very well and this is Edafe’s time and just like I always tell him, it is your gloves now and you have to prove yourself that you are worth it because Leke is just standing by.
“We have another young goalkeeper, Chibueze Lambert, who also is pushing hard. Edafe has been wonderful and we are thankful to have such quality goalkeeper in him”.
Amapakabo’s charges bounced back to winning ways, triumphing over high-flying Lobi Stars of Markurdi 2-0 at the Okigwe Township Stadium.
“We had a good game, no doubts and a very tactical game. We knew we needed to get a win, I’m thankful that the goals came a bit early and in terms of play, we knew we had to keep our shape and organisation.
“The Lobi side changed their formation in the second half and we had to restructure to a 4-1-4-1 for us to be able to counter their plans.
“Towards the end of the game we were able to create chances, but unfortunately, we didn’t get to make it count”.
Amapakabo’s side appears to have picked their right scoring boots and the onetime Sharks, Enyimba and El-Kanemi Warriors gaffer is very delighted.
“Yes, I agree and it’s something we’ve been working on. I made a promise to the boys and they gave it their all, but unfortunately, they were not able to hit target as often,” he said.
“We have played three games in seven days and we have a whole week to work and we will go back and keep working, correcting the mistakes.
“Today [Sunday], they were able to shoot more balls on target and it’s an improvement, so we are still pushing it.”
1 Comment
Egunje master on the loose again!