"Play With Freedom, Enjoy Your Game”: Akwa United Caretaker Coach Urges Players

"Play With Freedom, Enjoy Your Game”: Akwa United Caretaker Coach Urges Players

By Precious Oham

Caretaker coach of Akwa United, Umar Abdullahi has urged his players to “play with freedom and enjoy their game” while staying committed towards achieving the club’s ambition this season, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

The 2021 champions will engage Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium and it is expected to be a tough clash and struggle for three points by both teams who recently experienced managerial changes.

The Promise Keepers have endured a difficult start to the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League season and have found themselves languishing at the wrong end of the table for too long. 

Despite playing some attractive football goal scoring has been a major challenge facing the team and coach Abdullahi wants his players to be alert to ensure they make the best use of their opportunities in the match.

“It’s been a rough road for us since the beginning of the season but I’m confident that the situation will change here in Katsina. We know what the issue is and we have done our best to address it in our training sessions. Our ball play is good, we always created chances but getting the ball into the back of the net seems to be a challenge.

“When we play well and we don’t score, the boys sometimes play under pressure and with lots of anxiety. That is why I want them to go into this match against Katsina with confidence and to express themselves as professionals while playing with freedom.

“With our style of play, the chances to score are always there, and we have told the boys to always think and make quick decisions while maintaining high level of calmness in moment of execution. The goal drought we have been experiencing will surely come to an end here in Katsina because we are here to give our best, make good use of the opportunities that will come our way as we go for all three points."