Abia Warriors are getting ready to historical past. For the very first time, the Umuahia-based membership will step onto the continental stage after they host Malian giants Djoliba AC within the CAF Confederation Cup first leg conflict on the Godswill Akpabio Worldwide Stadium in Uyo on Sunday, 21 September.
The person tasked with main this daring new chapter is Imama Amapakabo, considered one of Nigeria’s most skilled coaches, who already carries a status for shaping underdogs into contenders.
Forward of the historic tie, he spoke to journalists on Saturday about what the second means, the load of expectation, and the tactical groundwork his facet has been placing in.
“I’m excited that I’d even be the primary coach to take Abia Warriors to the continent. It’s an thrilling feeling, it’s one which I feel all of us need to do very effectively in as a result of we’re making historical past collectively,” he stated at a pre-match presser forward of the sport.
For Abia Warriors, a membership based 32 years in the past however nonetheless carving out its legacy in Nigerian soccer, this continental debut is extra than simply one other fixture; it’s a press release of development and ambition.
On Djoliba’s expertise versus Abia Warriors’ starvation
PREMIUM TIMES experiences that Djoliba are not any strangers to the Confederation Cup. The Bamako-based facet has years of continental expertise to attract from, however Amapakabo insists his males should not coming in empty-handed.
“Like we mentioned with the gamers, you may’t take away the expertise of the group going into the sport. However what will depend for us, regardless of it being a primary time for Abia Warriors on the continent, is that we’ve got the gamers which have been on this identical route earlier than. So, it’s particular person expertise versus group expertise.
“We need to match them with what we’ve got and so they additionally need to come into the competitors with what they’ve, that they’ve been capable of put in over time.
“To most of us ‘gamers and training colleagues,’ this isn’t the primary time for us on the continent, and we’re all going to deliver our expertise to the fold.”
On scouting Djoliba and getting ready a tactical response
The Warriors’ coach revealed that his backroom employees have been working across the clock to grasp their opponents.
“All I can do is to look at loads of tapes, it’s stored me up for many nights now. Happily, I’ve been capable of get a number of details about the rapid previous video games that they’ve performed, and we’d work on it, in our greatest attainable approach, attempt to counter what they should put ahead.
“However it’s not what I’ve to return to the general public to say. However, we might strive our greatest attainable inside the two legs to have the ability to qualify.”
On retaining the gamers targeted
Amapakabo’s message to his gamers is obvious: stick with your strengths and belief the method.
“Most significantly we’ve been capable of work on an entire lot of issues. We’re going to stick with what we all know, how we play, and nothing completely different. It’s only for us to have the ability to preserve our heads on our shoulders, and proceed to work as greatest as attainable, and everybody prays for mom luck. We pray mom luck smiles on us that day.”
On managing strain and constructing a squad with the proper mentality
The coach admitted that not all of his gamers have walked this path earlier than, however the membership’s recruitment technique ensured a steadiness of recent ambition and seasoned expertise.
“Like I stated earlier, we’ve been capable of have a collection of talks. Most of those gamers haven’t been on this route earlier than. A few of us have been there, we try to make use of the expertise we’ve gathered.
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“We had this behind our minds once we had been recruiting. As a result of we wanted gamers which have had continental expertise to additionally assist us; for many who haven’t been right here earlier than to grasp how massive the event is for a group like Abia Warriors, and for his or her careers as effectively.
“No matter it’s, we’ve got a goal. We need to push additional. We all know there’s a bunch stage in entrance of us, too, which goes to be a laudable achievement if the group is ready to get there. However, like I stated, the Djoliba group each different 12 months they’re on the continent. And as a group, they’ve a number of continental expertise. However, we’re going to match them with our collective particular person experiences.”
This conflict isn’t only a soccer match; it’s a battle between an establishment seasoned by years of continental warfare and a debutant determined to put in writing its identify in African soccer historical past.
This primary step into Africa could outline Imama Amapakabo’s Abia Warriors perpetually. It’s extra than simply 90 minutes in Uyo; it’s the starting of a legacy written in braveness, not warning. A shot at immortality.
