By Adedeji Egbebi
Ado-Ekiti, – Soccer stakeholders in Ekiti — coaches and fans alike say they are not satisfied at the poor showing of their darling team, Ekiti United FC in first stanza of the Nigeria National League (NNL) last Sunday.
Some of the stakeholders who spoke with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday at the end of the first stanza of the league, reached the verdict that their team must shore up their performance to be able top the chart to stand a chance of promotion to the elite division.
A few blamed the situation to the financial instability that had dogged the management of the club.
One of stakeholders, Gbenga Akinluyi, a civil servant said the attitude of the state government, toward sports generally and football in particular, left much to be desired. “The Government is not encouraging the development of football in the state.
“For the team to excel in the league, they need the financial backing of the Government.
“Since the beginning of the season, the team’s performance had not been good enough as the coaches and other management personnel need to work hard to get the team to top the table at the end of the season,” he said
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An Ekiti-based businessman, Sunday Owolabi said the performance of the team could improve if the coaching, management and players could meet to jointly review the league and resolve to forge a common front.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
A female supporter of the Kehinde Talabi, said players of the club win against some `weak’ teams.
Talabi urged the board of the club to introduce rewards and sanctions. “Any player adjudged to have performed well should be rewarded while those who have erred should be sanctioned.
“I was disappointed at how poorly they approached the match involving them and a Port Harcourt-based side – the Go Round club during a home tie, at which they pulled a 1-1 drawn game at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium on June 24.
“They ought to have won that match convincingly but they lost concentration and lost the game,’’ she noted.
According to her, such rewards and sanctions will instill a sense of purpose in the team as they will also help to improve the commitment and focus during matches.
Kayode Adewumi, civil servant, said the performance of the team had been a bit fair in the first quarter.
“My advice for the management of the team is that they should seek technical advice on how to build a formidable team”.
“The team has yet to win an away match. That is evidence that the management needs to team them to cultivate a winning mentality,’’ he said.
Coach Samson Omiponle of United, however, disagreed, saying the fans needed to be patient with a new team.
According to him, improvements take a gradual process because some of the players are newly recruited without any National league experience.
“I have been devoting special attention to improving their skills but the supporters needs to be patient with us,” he said
Some of the supporters of the club, who also talked about the performance of the team, scored the team 50 per cent.
Coach Kehinde Anjorin of New vision of Ikere Ekiti, said the poor performance of the team in the first stanza of was as a result some basic factors.
He observed that the management needed to educate the supporters on how to comport themselves during home and away games.
“Harassing, beating or insulting officiating, especially referees during and after the matches is capable of causing setbacks to the club.
“I urge the board to provide good welfare packages to the players, which will include, adequate allowances and regular salaries to players and their coaching crew.
“The coach should scout for more talented footballers when the transfer window opens for the clubs to recruit quality players.
United is currently occupying the seven position with six points, with an outstanding match and a point from the 1-1 draw with Go Round FC yet to be added.
However, it is generally believed that second stanza, which would resume in two weeks time would be more competitive. (NAN)