Newly appointed head coach of Enyimba FC Yemi Olanrewaju aka Yema says his aim is to allow his players enjoy and express themselves on the pitch while taking results that come afterwards, www.aclsports.com reports.
Yema led the People’s Elephant to an emphatic come-from-behind 4-1 win over former champions Rivers in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match Day 34 game decided at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba on Sunday.
It was the first game that the reigning champions will have Yemi Olanrewaju YEMA on the touchline since he was confirmed as the new head coach after the departure of Finidi George and the former Vandrezzer FC coach made it count.
“I feel great honestly but I feel a bit sad for conceding that goal. You can see that our goalkeeper was on holiday throughout the game. I knew they were not going to survive us despite that I didn’t have enough time (to prepare the team) as I only came back on Thursday.
“They (the players) are not at the level I want yet but by the time they get to that level, you will find it difficult to cope against us. Either in your home or our home, you cannot contain us but we are making progress and I’m happy with the boys and their reaction after conceding,” said Yema after the game.
Andy Okpe gave Rivers United a 14th minute lead but two goals each by league’s topscorer Chijioke Mbaoma and substitute Elijah Akanni gave Enyimba a resounding win which kept them in the chase against league leaders Rangers Int’l.
“I had to be reactive at half time. I made three changes. In fact I wanted to make one during the first half, not that we were bad because we controlled the game from the beginning to the end. But in the second half, I needed someone who could give that goal,” added Yema.
The top two sides in the league Rangers and Enyimba face at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu next Sunday in an eagerly anticipated Match Day 35 fixture. Yema says he wants his Enyimba wards to go have some fun there.
“We are taking every game at a time because we are not the favourites for the title at this point, but if we don’t win the league, it will not be because we didn’t give our best.
“We will not back down. We will go to Enugu, we respect them but we want to enjoy every game whether home or away. You see how the boys enjoyed themselves today? We have to dominate and enjoy then whatever comes out of it, we will take it,” Yema concluded.
Enyimba are currently tied on top of the league table with Rangers International, both sides having 61 points from 34 matches but Enyimba have a possibility of a two-point deduction dangling over their head pending the determination of their appeal to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Appeals Committee.
