Abia Warriors Technical Adviser, Imama Amapakabo, has attributed the club’s defensive struggles to ‘technical mistakes’, reports Completesports.com.
Amapakabo, a former Nigeria junior international goalkeeper, who led Rangers to the 2015/2016 NPFL title as Head Coach is now looking resolve the the deficiency affecting Abia Warriors.
Following a resounding 3-1 victory over Plateau United in Umuahia on Sunday—marking the first time this season the team scored three goals in a match—Amapakabo explained why his team has been conceding goals.
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“We needed a win, and we got it. That’s what’s most important,” the former El-Kanemi Warriors coach began.
“There’s a lot we still need to work on. We conceded three goals in Lafia (against Nasarawa United), not because of tactical errors, but due to ‘technical mistakes’.
“These are the areas we really need to improve. We conceded another goal today, again through a ‘technical mistake’. The players must believe in what we’re doing and keep working hard.
“As it’s often said, tactics vary from coach to coach, but technique is something players develop throughout their careers. When a player makes a ‘technical mistake’, it impacts the team tactically. But we must keep working on it.”
When asked if he has found the right formula to make the team more consistent in the 2024/2025 NPFL season, Amapakabo replied:
“As I’ve said before, the league is like a 400-metre race. By this coming weekend, we’ll have completed the first 100 metres.
“Let’s not forget that we are a team in transition. We have over 20 new players, and even those from last season are adapting to a different philosophy, mentality, and tactical approach. It’s challenging, but it’s a work in progress.
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“The teams at the top of the league table have been consistent for a while. Football is about consistency, and once you keep a team together long enough, they will understand and execute the game plan.
“I’m confident this team will improve as the season progresses.”
Reflecting on the game, Amapakabo added: “There’s nothing I’ve done differently to make them score three goals today. If you’ve watched the eight games we’ve played so far, no team has created more chances than Abia Warriors, whether home or away.
“My role is to set the tactics. It’s up to the players to execute them with the right technique. We lost 3-0 in Lafia, but before they scored, we could have netted four goals ourselves.
“In today’s game (against Plateau United), we had an early chance, and in the loss to Remo Stars, we could have been up by four goals in the first three minutes. My responsibility is to create opportunities; it’s the players’ job to capitalise on them.”
He concluded: “I told them at half-time, after going 2-0 up, that we were playing well because we were sticking to what we do in training. When players become unnecessarily hasty and stray from what we’ve practised, that’s when mistakes happen. But we’ll keep working, and once Abia Warriors fully settle, we’ll be scoring plenty of goals.”
Abia Warriors currently sit 9th in the league standings with 11 points. Their next match is a Match Day 9 fixture away at 14th-placed Bendel Insurance, who have 9 points.
Meanwhile, 7th-placed Plateau United, with 9 points, will host Sunshine Stars of Akure, who are 4th with 13 points.
By Sab Osuji
