Saturday 16 March 2013

Coach Bala Seeks NNL Ticket, Hails Lokoja FC Come-back Win

Coach Bala Abubakar has praised his resilient Lokoja FC team for the brilliant twice come-back victory against visiting Pastor Oyakilome’s Rapshody FC on Sunday opening season win of the 2012/2013 Nigeria Nationwide League season.


Lokoja FC came back twice from behind to nick the all-important three points as they won 3:2 in their Nationwide league opener against spirited Rapsody FC in at the Kogi Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.The former popular Teachers FC fought their way back to grab the winner, giving their quest to secure an advancement into the Nigeria National League a shot in the arm.


The visitors open the scoring in the 43mins,the promising attacker Isah James’ television highlight strike from 25 yards, over-powering the home side to end the first half of the game in front.


The home side struck it equaliser five minutes from resuming the second half, but the determined visitors fired in the second three minutes later to regain the lead, with attacker Stephen Boro releasing another long range effort before the equalizer came in the 57min after Isaac Abraham scored from a goal mouth following a scramble in the box 18 area.


Incredible as the tie fancied to end in stalemate saw the home side leaving it late to pull a late winner with five minutes from regulation time, when Friday James bullet kick from the edge of the yard, saw the visitors defenders and keeper begging for questions.


“I’m happy with the performance of my players though they failed to do well in the second half, but returning back in the second they worked hard to get the most-important win.”


Speaking on the plans to improve the errors that cost the team overall, Coach Bala said through the team Media Officer, Samuel Ahmadu that, “we have identified the mistakes in the game, its just our first game in the season, we will work hard to correct the errors in training. We hope to keeping building as to keep getting better results.”


Meanwhile, Coach Bala Abubakar, the newly appointed Head Coach of Lokoja FC has set target of helping the Nigeria Nationwide League club secure ticket to the Nigeria National League.


The Niger state born emerging tactician now turned coach expressed readiness to help the club to achieve the course of playing in the next stage of the Nigeria Football League as that remains top priority of his ambition to turn around the fortune of the Lokoja outfit.


“I’ve really enjoyed my stay in Lokoja with the wonderful people. I love what I’m seeing here and fully prepared to make history with the team should various challenges in terms of finance, amenities and other provisions are made available,” said Bala.


However, Coach Bala Abubakar appealed to the fans and followers to rally round the team in the club’s quest to advance to the next stage of the league, stressing that the support of the fans will go a long way to facilitate the progress of the club,


“We are happy with the performances in friendlies so far; we won five and earned a draw in six matches already played. The most convincing is the victory against Ilorin based ABS, the players have continued to show great attitude and commitment, I believe our expectations of promotion can be achieved,” the club’s media officer Samuel Ahmadu quoted him as saying.

Lokoja FC will be guests to Dallatu FC in Gusau on Saturday, March 16th, 2013.

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