6th July, 2011
Sharks of Port Harcourt will confront Enugu Rangers in one of the Nigeria Premier League matches this evening.
Sharks who beat Plateau United 2-1 last weekend will have their hands full when they face Rangers in the league game at the Enugu Township Stadium today.
Assistant coach, Imama Amapakabo, is however relieved that Sharks finally returned to winning ways by defeating Plateau United 2-1 in a Week 30 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) game.
“We needed a break from this free fall that we are in,†began Amapakabo, who is in charge of the side in the absence of head coach, John Obuh.
But the win for Sharks came on a edgy note, as Plateau United started off with a goal inside five minutes through Kelly Paul.
However, Sharks’ left-back, Juwon Oshaniwa, smashed home the equaliser 12 minutes later for the hosts.
Mamaya Yusuf added a second that turned out to be the winner on 25 minutes to seal a home win for the Blue Angels.
The win was Sharks’ first in their last five games in the topflight following a string of draws and a loss at Enyimba on Matchday 29.
Sharks last won at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt on 1 June when they defeated Ocean Boys by a lone goal.
Amapakabo explained to SuperSport.com that the Blue Angels’ winless streak in four games had a mental dimension to it.
He added that injuries to key players in the heart of defence affected the team’s flow.
“I think it’s a psychological thing to get too many consecutive draws at home, and then the jitters set in.
“Another factor is that of injuries to key players in central defence.Some of them are just starting to train,†he revealed.
The defence quartet of Godwyn Mba, Ifeanyi Esobe, Hope Fiberesima and Senegalese Ousmane Sane has been in and out of the side due to varied injuries.
“It’s really been a big challenge. There was this time during the first round that we had about 14 key players out to either injury or national team engagements.
“But in all we haven’t done too badly this time,†Amapakabo said.