Super Eagles duo of Kevin Akpoguma and Philip Otele were missing in action as Hoffenheim defeated Hamburg 2-1 in Saturday’s Bundesliga game.
Akpoguma, who has made six appearances for Hoffenheim this season, was benched for the entire 90 minutes of the game while Otele was missing as a result of a direct red card in the previous game against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga round 30 clash.
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Hoffenheim took the lead in the 19th minute through Fisnick Asllani’s quality finish to silence the vociferous home supporters before Robert Glatzel leveled parity for Hamburg in the 34th minute via the penalty spot.
Tim Lemperle extended the visitor’s lead in the 46th minute with another clinical finish. Hamburg had the chance to make it 2-2 at the tail end of the second half, but the defender’s free header went way wide as Hoffenheim picked up a vital three points.
The win means Hoffenheim move 4th on the league standings with 57 points while Hamburg sit 14th with 31 points.
1 Comment
Someone in Complete Sports Nigeria must like Kevin Akpoguma as this platform continues to cover Akpoguma despite the fact that he has become a fully paid member of substitute bench in his club for over 2 seasons now.
Heck the lad can’t buy playing time if it is sold in a 1 Naira All-Items supermarket.
This season alone, he has only featured in 6 out of 31 league matches, yet I stand to argue that I have seen him appear on this platform more than 6 times this season.
So what’s the deal?
I don’t know but, wouldn’t you just know that I happen to like the guy! Although he struggles for game time, if he is fit, super fit, I will have no shame in approving his invitation to the Super Eagles ahead of next year’s Afcon.
I value experience. At the age of 31, I honestly think we can milk out 2 to 3.more years of good football out of Akpoguma. He can help keep our first and second choice centre back pairings on their toes.
This, I know, is a counterintuitive position to take, some would say perhaps even I am on the payroll of Akpoguma, to which I say: “kiss my arse!” We are all entitled to our views, however lopsided, strange and off-the-wall such views might be sometimes.
So, CSN and I aren’t entirely strange bedfellows on this matter. There must be something they see in shoving the exploits of a bench warmer down our throats every other week. Whatever it might be, I happen to like the taste.
So, sue me!