Sunshine Stars Head Coach, Duke Udi, has accepted responsibility for the Owena Whales’ 1–0 defeat to Heartland in a Nigeria National League Conference A clash at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, on Saturday, Completesports.com reports.
Udi claimed that his substitutions in the second half of the match cost Sunshine Stars a point against the Naze Millionaires, stressing that the two players he brought on to “hold the ball and stabilise” the team in the face of Heartland’s ceaseless pressure did not deliver.
Abdulateef Ibrahim scored the match-winner in the 90th minute as Emmanuel Amuneke’s side climbed to third position in the NNL table with 20 points, with only five games remaining in the season.
Udi Admits Tactical Changes Backfired
The former Shooting Stars Sports Club midfielder was candid during the post-match press conference when he told reporters that he was responsible for the last-gasp defeat.
“I’ll take responsibility for the changes I made. I made changes that were not supposed to be made, and I take full responsibility for that,” Udi, a former Grasshoppers of Switzerland midfielder, admitted.
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“So, I would say I’m the cause of the goal because, if you look at the changes that I made, they were not impactful. We had other younger players who were supposed to be on the field of play at the time I made those changes. So I take responsibility, like I said earlier. I caused the defeat to our boys and our team.”
Udi Stands By Honest Approach To Coaching Decisions
Interestingly, it was the same type of double substitutions Udi made when Sunshine Stars defeated Abia Comets in Aba a couple of weeks ago — a move for which he happily took credit.
Asked why he criticised the same substitutions when the result went against his team against Heartland, Udi explained that he is an honest person who takes responsibility for any action he takes, whether good or bad, stressing that he does not shift blame.
“I’m a coach. When I make a mistake, I take responsibility. I don’t shift blame. If it’s good, I say, okay, this is good for me. If it’s not, I’ll say I made a mistake.
“I played football, so I know what it means for me to say the truth. When you say the truth, it doesn’t take anything out of you. I made a mistake with the changes I made — that’s just the truth.”
Why Experienced Sunshine Stars Players Were Introduced
On whether the changes were as a result of pressure from Heartland in the closing stages of the game, Udi said it was borne out of the need to have experienced players on the pitch.
“Not just pressure in the sense that the two players who came in were the most experienced players in the team. When you have a game like this and pressure is on our side, we needed players that would keep the ball for us.
“And these are the most experienced players who would keep the ball. That was why we brought in the two players to stabilise the team and keep the ball for us because the best way to defend is to attack.
“When we started having that pressure, we felt this was the only way we could at least reduce it so it didn’t get too much on us. So we brought on our experienced players, but they disappointed us. Anyway, that’s why I said I take responsibility.”
Udi Relishes Reunion With Amuneke In NNL Clash
Udi also relished his clash with Heartland coach Emmanuel Amuneke in the NNL tie, describing it as a “family affair” after their long association as players.
“We started together at Nigerlux FC (Lagos). We played together in the Super Eagles. We were in Europe together. When he was at FC Barcelona, I was at Grasshoppers (Switzerland).
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“We played in the same UEFA Champions League together. So it’s a good thing that we’re here today. It’s like a family affair.”
Sunshine Stars Boss Dismisses Relegation Fears
Udi dismissed fears that Sunshine Stars could be dragged into a relegation battle with five games remaining in the season, even as their chances of immediate promotion back to the NPFL appear slim.
“(Laughs). We have three games at home and the fourth game is against Gateway United. We’re not underrating them. We’re not going into relegation. How can we go to relegation? It’s not possible.
“We have three games at home, including back-to-back home fixtures. We’re going to try to make something out of it.
“And one thing is that football is not something where you say one plus one equals two. You may have three games at home and still lose the three — God forbid.
“So until you get the first three points, you look at the second game. We’ll take it one step at a time. Like I said, today it was a good game. People watched a good game this evening. This is what we’ve been emphasising — quality football. Heartland is a good team as well.”
By Sab Osuji
