Boboye: Abia Warriors punish slow start to insurance

Bendel Insurance head coach Kennedy Boboye has admitted that his team was punished for their poor first half performance in the 3-0 loss to Abia Warriors on Sunday.

Chukwuemeka Obioma scored twice for the hosts, while Etta Ikoi added the other goal.

Boboye regrets poor first half performance

Boboye, who previously managed Sunshine Stars, Heartland, Akwa United and Plateau United, said his team failed to match the intensity of the game in the first half and was duly punished.

“We played poorly in the first half and were punished,” Boboye said after the game.

“That’s football for you. When you don’t meet the standard, your opponent punishes you.”

Former Abia Warriors players from Insurance

Bendel Insurance featured three former Abia Warriors players, Fatai Abdullahi, Suraj Lawal and Adekunle Adeleke, who joined the Benin-based club before the start of the season.

Boboye explained that the trio were included in the starting line-up because they have been regular starters since joining Insurance and not simply because they were facing their former club.

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“They have started every game here at Bendel Insurance since they joined us,” Boboye said.

“It’s not the first time and it’s not an exception, it’s just that we were unlucky to have conceded cheap goals in the first half.

“We will come back and restructure the strategy for our next match against Barau FC.”

The poor visitor form continues

The defeat means Bendel Insurance has lost all three of its away games this season.

Boboye acknowledged that the record is not ideal for a team with title ambitions, and insisted that his team must improve their away form and aim for maximum points against Barau FC in their next home match.

“Obviously, it will be a game that we must win if we want to remain among the best teams and fight for the title.

“We cannot think about winning the League and continuing to lose games like this.

“This is the third game we’ve lost away from home. If you want to be champion, you have to make sure you get something (points) in the away games and not just depend on the home games.”

By Sab Osuji