
The Oriental Derby: The Right Time to Move The Wheels
It feels good to be finally home. We have been away for almost two weeks and during this time, we played difficult games and the results we got were not what we expected. But like they say, “no place like home.” Finally, fans will get to see their darling Elephants again and it is just the right game, against Heartland FC.
Thankfully, the gates have been thrown open for the fans to come in and watch their team. In the past three games, against Zamalek, Kano Pillars and Kwara United, just few voices could be heard supporting the Elephants. Now, we will have to see the fans again come to give support to the Elephants and this could just be the right spark to the wheel of victory.
In the reverse fixture, we got our first away win of the season with a stunning 1-3 win in Owerri, to have the early bragging rights in the Oriental Derby. Then, our new boys had not been known by the fans but they unveiled themselves in a big occasion. Clinton Jephtah got a brace, while Ihemekwele scored once as both young players kick-started our season in style.
On Thursday, Amunike and his boys will come with that loss in their minds. Their ego was punctured in Owerri and they will want to restore their pride, as it were in Aba.
Eguma will be playing his third home game in the NPFL as our manager and he will hope to continue his unbeaten run in the league, this time with a win beginning from where he stopped against Nasarawa United.
The boys will get the kind of motivation they have not gotten in a while–fans cheering them on in Aba and asking for goals and more goals.
For Eguma, the task is an intricate one. He will find the right combination to balance the team, keeping in mind the possible fatigue the boys may have experienced and how to manage it.
He has tried some players in different positions and it is left to be seen if he will inject fresh legs or keep faith with the ones who have been playing in the past three games. It is obvious that some of the players need rest due to fatigue but this is a big game and caution is needed.
It has been three games without a win but a win against Heartland could put the team on the wheels of successive victories.
The big game is here. Fans will troop into the arena in their blue and white jerseys to support their team and to see them face-to-face for the first time in two weeks. They deserve a gift: another victory against the Naze Millionaires