NPFL: Lobi Stars Coach Blames His Side's 1-0 Loss To Ikorodu United On Pitch

Lobi Stars coach, Godwin Uuwa, has blamed his side 1-0 loss to one of the newly promoted side in the Nigerian Professional Football League side, Ikorodu United on the size of the pitch.

The Markurdi based team are fourth on the NPFL log and the coach has said that he will accept the loss and return to the

drawing board to correct his errors to avoid repeating such mistakes in their next game against Elkanemi Warriors at home.

The captain of the visiting side, Agbaji Anthony, also expressed disappointment at the result, saying they came to Lagos to beat Ikorodu and further increase their league points

"We take the defeat in good fate, we will return home to plan ahead of our next league game."

"Normally, you train everyday, and we'll ensure that we watch where there are mistakes and correct them, but one thing I want everybody to know is that registration is still ongoing, so by the time we go back home now, we'll work hard because we know it's not going to be an easy match against Elkanemi, all we need to do is work hard and clinch our three points."

"No no no, anyone that underrates his opponent in the present world of soccer is making a mistake, but the truth of the matter still remains that the pitch contributed, you see Lobi stars train on a synthetic ground, the pitch is bigger, although I tried to take care of that but the boys couldn't hold their heads."

"We had issues because we are not used to playing on turf , and I believe Ikorodu United will have the same problem when they on artificial turf, you could injure yourself or just anything might happen, all the same, I accept the defeat in good fate, they got one clear chance and utilised it aand that's the end, it's like. It's a lesson to the boys and the whole team."

Lobi stars captain, Anthony Abaje said "Both teams had a good game, no doubt, we appreciate our opponent, they play good football and we also play good football, but as my coach as earlier said, the grass and the field contributed to our loss, it was difficult for us to cope with the size of the field, you know when you hit the ball and you find out the ball is already in the goalkeeper's hand, you find it very difficult to cope, we hope we can cope next time, and go back to the drawing board to find out where there are errors and try to correct them."

"Our aim here was to get a win not a draw, but we take this defeat in good fate, and we hope for victory in our next game. As far as the NPFL is concerned, there's no team that is a push over and we take every game that comes as a final match." Lobi stars captain concluded

On the other side, Ikorodu United head coach, Benson Edema says that the comments coach are wrong, adding that as a player or coach, you must prepare for anything for any terrain.

Edema said it felt good to bag three points against a top side like Lobi, but insisted that they will swing to training immediately as they battle seven time NPFL champions, Enyimba on Wednesday.

"Well, I will say I give God all the glory, and a well planned match because I know Lobi is not a push over team, they are at the top of the NPFL log, but I will say no to what my colleague said, complaining about the pitch."

"Onikan has been here for sometime now, they've even played continental games here, I remember the days of Stores. My own believe is this, when you are going for a match on a grass pitch, you wear the boot for grass, and when you are going to play on a synthetic you waer the boot for synthetic, after all, Abia Warriors came here to pick a point, and they didn't complain about the pitch, so it was surprising to me when coach Uuwa was complaining."

"They played here when he was the coach of Julius Berger, no complain then, the pitch was not small, you have to accept your defeat. I'm not trying to criticise him but football is over this evening and we thank God we won, and already looking forward to our next game."

"I've only been opportuned to watch Lobi once during the FA cup final in November, but I know that anytime I meet them, I will beat them, because they wanted to force us to play a long one, they just control the ball and play into our half, but my boys didn't react to their style in time, we put ball on ground and play, but our next game, I no we will execute our game plan."

"It's a welcome idea, winning our first game here in Onikan. It's been long when you last had a premier league side here but winning the first game here, I must give God the glory and kudos to my boys. They started and ended well by not conceding any goal."