We can’t be underrated in NPFL, Doma United coach boasts
Akinade Onigbinde, Technical Adviser of Doma United Football Club of Gombe, says his team have come to stay in the 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and cannot be underrated.
Onigbinde spoke after their 2-0 defeat of visiting Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in a Group B Match Day 14 fixture at the Pantami Township Stadium on Sunday in Gombe.
He said, in spite of being in their debut season in the NPFL, Doma United have worked hard to prove their worth and “we are now here to stay in the league.”
The coach said Doma United deserved some level of respect in the league and could no longer be pushed aside by any club in the NPFL.
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“Doma United have come to stay. So, any team that underrate Doma United are on their own and doing that at their own risk,” he said.
Onigbinde said the club’s target now was to improve on their new position and work towards a continental ticket.
“We are third on the log and we want to remain there. Our plan is to make sure we play well in the remaining matches and be there.
“Everything in life is determination and the determination is from both the players and the officials, as well as the management.
“We are determined to be there. We will work towards it and God is helping us,” he said.
Onigbinde lauded his players for performing as instructed and sticking to the game plan which he said earned them the maximum points in the game.
On his part, Wada Jubril, the Chief Coach of Wikki Tourists, said his players did not play to instructions and that was why they conceded the first goal.
Jubril said the second goal was awarded to the hosts by the referee and was not a goal. “I don’t know why the referee awarded the goal.”
He however said the implication of the defeat was “terrible” in view of the club’s battle to avoid relegation “because we have gone down”.
“By the Grace of God, we will win our next match to keep hopes alive.”
The coach decried the level of officiating in the match, alleging that the referee disallowed a goal scored by his player.
“That goal ought to have been awarded and, if the goal had been awarded, we could have equalised.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Musa Usman who just returned from injury grabbed a brace for the hosts in the 44th and 48th minutes of the match.
Usman has now taken his goals tally in the league to six.
