Elaho hails squad, as Emmydinho FC retain NLO 2 status

Coach Friday Elaho (MON) has heaped praises on his Emmydinho FC squad as they fought hard to retain their Nation-Wide League Division Two status.

The Super Eagles legend told OwoSports after his team’s last game in Ijebu-Ode, “I want to commend my players for their brilliant performance they put in the three games in the NLO Division Two, Ijebu-Ode centre.

“Despite not been able to progress to the next round, it was a good debut season for my team as we retained our status. We’ll go back home look at the areas we were lacking and proffer solutions to them.”

On his team’s loss to Knight FC,
“I don’t like to talk about referees but to be frank with you, the officiating between my team and them was poor.

“Despite my team been two goals down, the ref made the fight back from my players an Herculean task, frustrating their effort with his poor calls.

“Looking at the funds and time invested on teams before and during tournaments, our match officials need to be professional in their duties.

“A bad call from him (the penalty he gave Knight FC which was not a hand ball) changed the orientation of the game.

“Even the NLO delegate and some members of the Ogun State Football Association members who watch the game could not hide their displeasure.

“Both teams were good on the field of play as they were even in all departments. The two goals we conceded was loss of concentration from my defenders.

“A big lesson learnt the hard way for my team and its management as whenever we need to take part in a tournament we need to be at the venue three or two days early.

“My players pulled a surprise as we were lucky in the first game we won by a lone goal against Metropolitan FC as we got to the pitch less than 30 minutes after we got to Ijebu-Ode.

“The fixture congestion and fatigue also played a part as some of my players were tired as they played the three games at stretch.”