Technical Manager of Heartland FC, Emmanuel Amuneke, has stated that he must rebuild confidence and self-belief in his players following their recent struggles to convert clear goal-scoring chances, Completesports.com reports.
Heartland are winless in four consecutive NPFL matches and will face league leaders Remo Stars and Abia Warriors in their upcoming matchday 29 and 30 fixtures.
Amuneke, a former Zamalek and FC Barcelona winger whose goal secured Nigeria’s gold medal in the men’s football event at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, was emotional on Sunday night after his side fought back to draw 1-1 with Bayelsa United at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
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Amuneke’s concerns were not about the quality of play, as Heartland dominated from start to finish, but rather their failure to convert chances in the final third of what was a near one-sided contest.
“I think this is the second game that we’ve drawn at our home, and I think that probably, a little bit of complacency, kind of, must have gotten into the players,” Amuneke, a former Zanaco of Zambia coach, said after the game.
“But we need to look at things from a general perspective and look at how we can motivate the players. It’s not about criticising. Sometimes you have to criticise in a positive way. But what matters is how we could be able to build that confidence back into the players because if you’re an attacker and you are used to scoring and suddenly you’ve chances and you didn’t convert them, your confidence begins to diminish.
“But we have to find a way to continue to inspire the players and get them to believe in themselves.”
Sunday night’s draw at Dan Anyiam Stadium was Heartland’s second at home, following their 1-3 defeat to Enyimba in the season-opening Oriental Derby.
Reflecting on the Bayelsa United game, Amuneke lamented his players’ inability to capitalise on numerous scoring chances.
“We went into the game like every other game that we’ve played. Our objective was to win. If you look at the number of chances we created in the game as a team and still, we found it very difficult to convert them. That’s what’s giving me a little bit of concern.
“If you look at the game objectively, you will find out that we controlled and dominated the game from start to finish so much so that you could count how many times Bayelsa United posed a threat to our goalkeeper.
“But, you know, this is football. When you don’t get it right, it looks like all your efforts are nothing. But like I said earlier, I’m worried about that because, in our previous game in Lagos, we created a whole lot of chances but we’re not even able to convert one. And today again, it has happened again.
“Same was the case against El-Kanemi Warriors. So, I think I need to go back, as a coach, and that’s why I’m a coach, to look at that area; what can we do and how can we do it. This is because you can only win a game if and when you can score a goal and defend it very well till the end.
“But unfortunately, we’re wasting a lot of chances that we worked hard to create. We must also recognise the quality and strength of Bayelsa United that we played against. They came with a plan, and they stuck with their plan, and it’s kudos to them.”
Amuneke also sympathised with Heartland’s fans, who were left disappointed by consecutive home draws from the five-time Nigerian champions.
The 1994 AFCON winner and 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning coach with the Golden Eaglets admitted that the supporters had every right to feel frustrated.
“Of course, nobody would be happy. You see, one thing in a game, and mostly when you look at the Nigerian League, at your home, you want to win. So, they have their right not to be happy,” Amuneke remarked.
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“And if anybody says otherwise, I think that person is not being fair to them. Our fans have been very, very supportive. They’ve been coming out here to cheer the team.
“So, it remains for the players to stand up to the occasion, deliver, and make the fans happy.”
Midfielder Emmanuel Charles was substituted during the match after going down and requesting to be taken off.
Amuneke, while awaiting the medical report, feared that the injury might be serious.
“I’ve not gotten a report on the state of his injury, but for Emmanuel Charles to fall down and demand that he should be substituted, I think it may be something serious,” he said.
“But of course, the guy that came in to replace him was also exceptional. He was able to do the job, but I’ll get the report (on Emmanuel Charles’ injury) to see the level of the injury and then know the kind of treatment he requires so as to ensure that he recovers as quickly as possible.”
By Sab Osuji
