By Wale Mustapha.
Hard fighting Kogi United forced Mighty Jets to a goalless draw in the Matchday Two of Nigeria National League, NNL clash played at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos on Saturday.
Both sides created numerous chances to win the match at different occasions but were short of luck in their final thirds.
Kogi United came in to the match with hundred percent record into the season after beating Aklosendi in the opening.
The Confluence State’s club displayed an impressive performance in the opening stages of the encounter with both John Jerome and Anthony Jegede csme close to found back of the net on different occasions but Jets’ keeper, Rutduwe Gobuw stood between them and the goal.
The visitors were the better side in the first half as they dominated almost the entire proceedings but Jets refueled their engine midway through the second period and could have be in front but Salisu Ogbe dived well to parry Bala Zaki’s shot wide.
The closing stages of the encounter was all about Mighty Jets as they threw everything at their visitors but Kogi United’s defense marshaled by Tenimu Abubakar and Kayode Moses with calculative Ogbe in goal denied Jets any passage to get through.
Head Coach of Kogi United, Tunde Abdulrahman who praised his players for their focus at difficult periods to withstand Jets’ pressure noted that the result have signaled the beginning of United’s good runs in the NNL.
Abdulrahman said his side could have claim the full match points but find it difficult to weave passes around on the slippery Rwang Pam pitch.
“I’m happy with this result and I want to commend my players for their mentality to achieve this result, it’s an important point for us to push for promotion as you know this is one of difficult ground to pick points.
“I was very optimistic that we can beat them but condition of the pitch affected us somehow and we couldn’t move the way we wanted, I think for us to survive here, we can stand our ground anywhere,” he said.
Midfielder Osas Eghe echoed his coach’s positing on the importance of the result as he described it as a loss of points for United but praised his team mates for their fighting spirits.
Osas told Kogi United Media that “We could have win this game, we have always been picking point in Jos and I think this is like we are dropping two points
“I commend the team for their collective fight today, they were decent all through, we fight and cover ourselves, but we need to put this game aside now and focus on the next game because our aim is to go up to NPFL at the end,” concludes Osas.
Kogi United have so far gathered four points from two games and will hope to continue with their impressive start to the season when they host Road Safety FC next Saturday in Lokoja.
