NPFL: Bendel Insurance and Gombe United coaches moan for different reasons

 Bendel Insurance technical adviser Monday Odigie has expressed displeasure over his team’s goalless draw against Enyimba.

Odigie believed that football should be played fairly without partiality, pointing out that players need to be protected to get the best from them.

“I don’t see the game against Enyimba as a big fixture and I don’t have an assessment of the game, I’m sure everyone saw the game,” Odigie responded in a post-match interview.

“Football should be allowed to be played fairly anywhere in the country. Football is being killed by what happened in the game. When you want to see Nigerian players play well, they need to be protected. That’s when you can see the game move.”

Bendel Insurance remains in the eighth position following the result.

Elsewhere, the coach of Gombe United Football Club, Mohammed Babaganaru, has expressed concern over the financial challenge affecting his team, stating that it is impacting the psychological well-being of the players.

Babaganaru made this statement during a post-match conference held at the Pantami Township Stadium on Sunday, following Gombe United’s 2-0 victory over visiting Lagos Sporting Football Club.

The win provided a much-needed boost for Gombe United, which has been struggling in previous matches and is currently facing relegation.

The team’s morale received a lift with goals scored by Abdulateef and Taiye in the 45th and 74th minutes, respectively.

However, Babaganaru stated that the players’ psychology is affected by the club’s financial constraints.

“We have a lot of challenges. Firstly, when we started, we began well. You know we have financial challenges; psychologically, the boys are not sound. So the government needs to come in and help this club financially.

“The problem is not quality players; finance is the major problem. I’m appealing to His Excellency to come to the aid of this club,” he said.

Regarding the amount required to improve the team’s performance, Babaganaru deferred to the general manager, stating: “I’m only the coach; the question should be extended to the General Manager. But for me, I know we have that challenge.”

He also affirmed the potential consequences of the financial difficulties, stating: “Yes, it will affect you. There is no way you can manage your home without money. Your wife will hate you.”

Meanwhile, the coach of Sporting Lagos Football Club, Paul Offor, acknowledged the loss to Gombe United but expressed determination to focus on future matches.

Offor underscored the importance of not allowing the result to affect the team’s performance in upcoming games.

He said: “We lost today in a very difficult match, but the most important thing is, we need to focus on this one. It is gone, and there is nothing we can do about it right now. We have to shift our attention to our next game.”