Kabiru Dogo, Chief Coach of Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin, says his team’s 0-1 loss to hosts Gombe United was a huge setback.
Dogo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the loss has greatly hindered their efforts aimed at advancing upwards on the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Group A log.
NAN reports that Kwara United lost their 2022/2023 NPFL Group A Match Day 11 fixture to Gombe United at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe on Wednesday.
Anayo Ogbonna scored in the 37th minute of the game to give Gombe United a vital home win, and Dogo said the match was a good game in spite of the fact that his side lost.
He however said the loss, coming at a time his side was beginning to pick points and progressing on the NPFL log, was disappointing because they aimed at picking the game’s three points.
“It’s a very huge setback for us because it was a game we targeted three points from, but it was just unfortunate.
“We have accepted it in good faith and we will go back to the drawing board and work towards our next match.
“Our plan was to get the three points. That was our target, not just to survive but to make it to the top. And to make it to the top, every point is important.
“Losing this point is a setback for us. But it is one of those things in football,” the coach said.
NAN reports that Kwara United dropped to eighth from sixth on the log after the loss, with 12 points from 11 matches, after three wins, three draws and five losses.
Speaking also, Aliyu Zubairu, the Technical Adviser of Gombe United, said he was however delighted at the outcome of the match.
He said this was because the maximum points would help them advance on the log.
Zubairu said the match was difficult though.
He attributed this to the fact that they were just returning from the general elections break, and the fact that the visitors were motivated by their recent good form under their new coach.
“It (the match) wasn’t an easy match at all considering the fact that we were delayed during the period of election.
“It is really telling a lot. We struggled all through the second half but all the same, it is a step ahead for us,” the coach said.
He said his priority for now was to stabilise his team as they progress in the league.
“What we are looking for now is to get stability. Of the points we lost at home, we have been able to regain three. Then, we will start thinking of consolidating on that. But stability is the priority,” Zubairu said.(NAN)
