Gombe United ace player, Itodo Akor is thankful to sports-scholar and loving Gombe State’s Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, a world-class award-winning professor of Health Education and former Vice Chancellor of University of Maiduguri, for spurring his team to a major 2-0 sweet victory over NPFL’s defending champions Abia-based Enyimba FC at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe yesterday.
Spokesman Sports correspondent who was at the capacity crowd stadium during the explosive cracker reports that Gombe Utd fans who trooped out to cheer their darling team were treated to edgy moments of good exhilarating soccer from both sides though the home team which came with former Nigeria international and Arsenal striker, Kanu Nwankwo, had upper hand throughout the game.
Striker Chilioke Alekwe sporting jersey No. 9, opened scoring for Gombe Utd by netting the first goal in the 44th minute, one minute before the break.
When the game resumed, visiting Enyimba boys raised their attacking style from both flanks and indeed tried to up their game but the home team, cheered and spurred on by their fans, gave stiff resistance until Ahmed Jimoh, dropping the ball on his left foot from a long range at the left flank, scored the second goal barely eight minutes into extra time through a free kick that sealed the victory with the three points which set home fans wild with excitement at the stadium until the referee blew the final whistle to close the memorable match with a fantastic finish that the team is back to winning ways.
Asked at a post-match press conference what the team did differently to thrash the formidable Nigeria Premier Footbal League (NPFL) at the matchday two encounter at the Pantami Township Stadium, Akor Itodo said:
“We had this encouragement from our coach, our management. Most importantly, the state government was behind us before the kick of the game. The Secretary to the State Government came and gave us words of encouragement. I think that was enough to motivate the team and we will continue pushing. It’s the first match we don’t want to celebrate much’’.
On target for the current season, Akor added, “Last season, we didn’t do well and we thank God we have a Technical Adviser that has won the league back to back, he came in with a champion mentality. We are here to compete for the title by the grace of God, we will give the people of Gombe good results.”
Also commenting on the match, Technical Adviser of Gombe United, Mohammed Babaganaru, expressed optimism that his team would win laurels, adding, “If you look at the team, it’s entirely a new team, most of the players of last season have left. We also started very late. I believe the team will improve in the course of the league.”
On performance and turnout, Babaganaru said, “To be sincere, I really appreciate the support of the fans. They are very cooperative they gave us maximum cooperation from the end. Fans should keep praying for us.”
On what fans should expect, “I know expectation is high I’m just coming into the team and the team is just beginning to adopt my philosophy but I tell you the team will improve because we didn’t have much time to prepare, the time is limited for me. It’s now I’m seeing the right people position,” he added.
“We prepared very well for this game. We know how important it is, knowing quite well we lost at home to Enyimba last season, home and away. We prepared our minds and told ourselves we have nothing more than our three points; we want to thank Almighty God for giving us this victory.”
Meanwhile, our correspondents also reports that the presence of Kanu Nwankwo excited Gombe Utd fans who took the opportunity to take photos with him. The former Nigerian international, fondly known as Papilo, literally threw the Gombe United fans into so much wild excitement at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe State that his security had a hard time with the ecstatic crowd of enthusiasts.
It took policemen and other security operatives to escort the smiling Enyimba FC chairman to a waiting car while he waved at the fans.
Kanu Nwankwo, who as the current chairman of Enyimba Football Club, came to motivate his boys during their encounter with Gombe United where they suffered a 2-0 defeat from their host.
Our correspondent reports that Kanu last visited Gombe State in 2010 during the opening of the Pantami township stadium.
