FINIDI HOPEFUL OF IMPROVED OUTINGS AFTER ‘SCRAPPY’ KWARA UTD WIN

Head Coach Finidi George says he is hopeful performance level will improve after watching his Enyimba side labour to a 1-0 win in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Sunday.

Forward Chijioke Mbaoma converted a penalty in added time of the first half to hand the NPFL champions maximum points in Aba on Sunday – a win that lifted the team further up on the standings.

It is also the second consecutive game without conceding a goal by the People’s Elephant following back-to-back defeats in the inaugural African Football League (AFL).

Speaking after Sunday’s game, the 1995 UEFA Champions League winner with Ajax said he has put the AFL exit behind and is looking forward to competing favourably in the NPFL.

“Continental is continental, that one (AFL) is gone,” he noted. “We competed but it was not enough. So, this is where we belong.

“The league has kicked off, we just want to see how we can be winning games. If we are not winning, then we shouldn’t lose, especially in away matches, then we can come back to solidify. I think that is the way forward.”

The former Real Betis and Mallorca winger added: “It’s not going to be an easy league season as you can see.

“Both Akwa United and Rivers United played a draw (at home), while Remo Stars were beaten by Bendel Insurance. So, the league is tough. If you are able to win your home matches, you just have to build on that.

“Everybody wants fantastic football but sometimes, you have to be a little bit scrappy to win games, which we did against Kwara United. Definitely, as we move on, we’ll see better games and a lot of victories.

“We’ll work on the team and make sure we keep everybody happy.”