Sports
FIDELIS Ilechukwu, Technical Adviser of Plateau United Football Club, says it was delighted seeing his team scoring during their 4-1 thrashing of Al Akhdar Sports Club of Libya.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Plateau United, in the 2022/2023 CAF Confederation Cup playoffs first leg match, were bright in beating Al Akhdar SC.
Ilechukwu told newsmen on Thursday in Abuja he was happy with his players’ attacking efforts right from the onset to the end of the game.
“I am happy that we are scoring at this rate because what it does is that it gratifies the type of football we are trying to showcase.
“Our style is a beautiful blend of both possession and an offensive style of football and that’s what we managed to do on Wednesday.
“We also thrive on urgency in the final third. But it’s not just only about attacking, it’s also about our ability to control the midfield as well.
“I think, with the team’s scoring goals at this rate, it shows that things are working and we have taken some vital lessons away from our brief stint in the CAF Champions League.
“We are indeed a team capable of achieving something great in this competition,” he said.
Ilechukwu noted that his team was built in such a way that the duty of goal scoring does not lie in the hands of a particular player.
He added that any player in the team was capable of scoring.
“I don’t think any particular player in this squad can dictate the fortunes of the entire team.
“There are always players whose names are likely to show up on the scoresheet, even as substitutes in a match, and it is good that they are capable of that because this team thrives on the basis of a collective effort,” the coach said.
On his team’s tactics heading into the second leg match, Ilechukwu said they would need to work on all departments, especially in defence and midfield.
He pointed out that the Libyan side would definitely come out with all guns blazing in the second leg to ensure they reduced the goals deficit and go on to win.
“We will be going back to the drawing board to ensure we work on all departments because we know they are going to come out and be very aggressive in their approach to the second leg.
“You could see from the way they played in the first half that their plan was to sit back and defend against us in the first leg and finish things off in Libya.
“However, it was because we scored those two first half goals that they decided to come out to play.
“Fortunately for us we won the first leg with an impressive goal margin, which is the most important thing and that is what we wanted,” Ilechukwu said.
The coach however thanked the fans who came out in their numbers to support the team.
He added that the team’s goal was to ensure that they entertained Nigerians with a good brand of football.
“We wanted the fans to witness a vibrant brand of football. We wanted them to be emotionally charged and enjoy a beautiful brand of football.
“I think a good game of football is good for everyone and we hope that the fans returned home happy, having enjoyed 90 minutes of good football,” Ilechukwu said.(NAN)
Tags: Al Akhdar Sports Club CAF Champions League. Fidelis Ilechukwu
