Ikorodu United head coach, Sam Okpodu has said inexperience is the biggest challenge confronting the side in the ongoing top flight.
The newly promoted side will host Heartland in Saturday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 14 clash at the Agege Township Stadium in Lagos.
The Oga Boys have been without a win in their past nine matches in the 13-week old Nigerian top flight.
Okpodu said his side showed resilience in the 0-1 loss at El Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri and hope the youngsters willproduce an enhanced performance to down the Naze Millionaires in Saturday’s match up.
“Inexperience and immaturity are the bane of the side at the moment, it’s even worst more of immaturity than inexperience because the fouls, goals and mistakes we commit are elementary and as result of immaturity.
“The fact that we have gone nine matches without a win does not mean we are not playing good football.
“At El Kanemi Warriors we played good game almost running away with a point before the careless and elementary error that led to the cheap penalty.
“I told the players if they could maintain, replicate and double their efforts in subsequent matches the outcome will be hugely different.
“Today (Saturday) against Heartland I believe the players are going to come to the party to deliver the goods.
“Heartland are experienced side the encounter just like any other match on the NPFL calendar is not going to be easy.
“We have worked on our shortcomings that have denied us victory in the past we are hoping for a win against Heartland.
“We need to start picking points to further boost the players’ confidence before the midterm break when we hope to bring in more experience and matured players to beef up the team.
“I believe we will get it right and stamp our foothold in the domestic league but we need prayers and supports of all and sundry as it is done in other clime to overcome the teething problem,” said the former Warri Wolves coach to supersport.com.
Ikorodu United are at the bottom of the 20-team top flight on six points from possible 39 in the 13-week old league.
Source: soccernet.com
