Abia FA Cup 2024: Coach Yemi Fumes Over Choice of Barbaric Pitch After Enyimba's Victory

 ..As Gordon, Obichere Pick Nasty Injuries

 

NPFL defending champions, Enyimba FC on Tuesday began their 2024 Abia State Federation Cup campaign with mixed feelings after a slim 1-0 victory against stubborn locals, Ngwa United FC.

A 37th minutes goal by Obichere Wisdom who was making his debut for the People's Elephant' with "man of the match" performance was all the former National Federation Cup champions needed to over come the resilient challenge of the NLO One side, Ngwa United at the Amaogudu Stadium, Abriba.

Reacting after the game, Enyimba's Assistant Coach, Olarenwaju Yemi Daniel expressed his dismay at the decision to subject Enyimba FC to what he described as a horrible and barbaric decision of playing their State FA Cup on a bad pitch which he said has gave two of his players serious injuries.

He lamented that other big teams such as Rivers United, Kwara United, Akwa United and others cannot be subjected to such horrible state of pitch for their games.

Enyimba had officially requested for a change of the Venue following the bad state of the pitch in other to protect the players but the state FA insisted the encounter must go on even when it could have taken place in Umuahia Stadium.

"In normal climes you can't send a club like Enyimba to come and play in a pitch like this, two of my players are seriously injured now.

"I don't know what to say, it's really crazy but it's important that we honour it for the love of the game.

"But this cannot happen anywhere, you cannot take Rivers United or take Kwara United to a pitch like this or any other club or take Akwa United to a pitch like this to come and play, it is barbaric seriously.

"But Enyimba is all about winning wether we are playing on stone, this is the thing i told my boys and am impressed with their attitude, wether we are playing on stone or water, as long as you out on that blue & white, you have to represent the club and win, that all that matter to us.

The elephants would now shift their focus to the next round which is the Quarterfinals against Jaguar FC of Umuahia.  The game is slated for Thursday 21st of March, 2024 at the Umuahia Township Stadium by 3pm