NPFL: " Reality check " Coach Onu states two reasons for Abia Warrior's first loss of the season
" Maybe we thought we have arrived, but now we can see that we are yet to arrive, we will go back and improve on all fronts"
By Olusola Adebayo
Abia Warriors Coach, Erasmus Onu speaks on what went wrong with his side after losing after match of the season to Lobi Stars on Sunday by 0-1 at Umuahia.
Abia Warriors started the season like a house on fire, winning their first two games season scoring 5 goals in the process, thus scoring a perfect six points.
But they surprisingly lost their third game to Lobi Stars at their home, a result that is least expected going by how Abia Warriors executed their first games of the season.
The highly tactical coach says it's a reality check, as the players and himself thought the team have arrived after beating Rangers in Awka by 2-0 and followed it up with a comprehensive 3-1 pounding of Bayelsa United in Umuahia.
Pundits were expecting Abia to make it three on the bounce as they host Lobi Stars at home but Lobi Stars defeated Abia Warriors to take the number of away victories to nine in just 18 games.
The coach gave credit to the referees for a great job done so far as any team can lose anywhere.
In his post-interview, coach Onu's first reaction to the loss said :
" The referees are doing well, if I can lose, and some other people are losing, then nothing is wrong with it. We are going back to the computer and trying and get it right in our next matches".
He then zero in on the two things that could cause the unexpected break in their wing runs.
The coach mentions the attitude of his team on the day as one of the reasons for the team's loss.
" Maybe we thought we have arrived, but now we can see that we are yet to arrive, we will go back and improve on all fronts"
He also stated that the lethargic display is another reason for their loss on the day
" The players were slow and I am surprised too because I know we play fast football, today If we play to our character we could do something better but when we get to the training, we will ask questions, then we will know what went wrong". Onu told reporters after the match on Sunday.
Abia Warriors was one of the struggling sides of the league last season battling relegation.
Since the beginning of the reformed league with a new committee, Interim Management Committee, IMC, is one of the teams that have sprung surprises that characterized the young season so far.
Abia Warriors are a joint leader in group B of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, with six points same as Niger Tornadoes as both as plus three goal difference, while Niger Tornadoes face Rivers United on Tuesday as a man leader may emerge after the day's last game in Rivers State.
