Coach Deji Ayeni of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure has reflected on the dynamics of the NPFL and the expectations of his team ahead of the second stanza of the league.
Ayeni, in an exclusive interview with www.owosports.com.ng, noted that the league has been competitive and it requires total concentration to stay afloat the situation.
“Honestly, it was a highly keen contested and competitive league this season. If you read along the line, there’s no home or away advantage, you have to work for your point before you could get it”.
Recalling how his team survived the Dakkada’s FC scare in their last NPFL game, Ayeni revealed that the come back against their visitors wouldn’t have been possible if not for their positive mindset and strong character.
Noting Plateau United FC as the only team that hasn’t recorded a defeat or a loss at their home ground in the current season, he stated that the league has been a roller coaster affairs with surprising results making the headline.
The former Ekiti United gaffer who emphasized the fact that no team is perfect said some grey areas has been identified and the club will improve on its performance in the second stanza.
“The second round is upon us. It’s entirely a period that all team have to be serious.It’s the last hurdle of the league and where we know who is going to drop and who is going to go for continental spot. We are already identifying those areas where we need to work on before the second round starts”
“We have to work on the areas of our need; inject some new legs and make the team to be more clinical upfront- because one of the major challenges we have got this season is conversion of our chances. Be that as it may, there’s no perfect team in the world, we will keep on working on our deficiencies and I believe we are going to be more better than what we did in the first round”
Speaking about the attendant challenges that come with adopting an home ground away from home, the former Cynosure FC tactician stated that it has been a difficult situation playing away from home.
“It’s not easy playing away from home. It tells on the management and the Players. We travel all through the week from away to another home match- giving us different kind of stress here and there. More so, it’s not easy not to play in front of your fans because there’s no 100% support”. he quipped.
“One or two players have been discovered- so, after the match against Plateau United we would have meeting with the management and rub minds together on how to make the team more strong, ruthless upfront and be highly clinical with our chances- So that we will be among the contenders of the league and finish top four in order to actualise our dream of going back to the continent” concluded Ayeni.
Sunshine Stars recorded a 2-1 victory over Dakkada in their last game and are now 7th position on the NPFL log with 26 points. The team will face the second-placed Plateau United on the match day 19 away from home in Jos.
