Super Eagles’ defender, Akeem Latifu has given reasons for Aalesund of Norway’s slow start to the Tippeligaen but assured that the club would soon bounce back.
Aalesund have played three games in the league this season with two losses to Rosenborg and Molde and a draw at home to Lillestrom and Latifu gas told SportingLife that his club has not come to terms with some of their best players that left the club at the end of last season.
The former Flying Eagles star said the departure of their head coach Jan Jonsson who returned to his country left a big hole in the team and that four high profile players were also sold last season.
He said the club has not been able to find a capable replacement to Jonathan Tollas (Valerenga), Damer Phillips (MLS), Daniel Arnefjord (Sweden) and Fredrik Ulvestad (Burney FC), England all left big gaps that are yet to filled as at the time of granting this interview.
Latifu also opined that the players are still trying to get familiar with the tactics and pattern of the new coach, Harald Aabrekk.
Despite all the odds against them presently, Latifu however, stated that Aalesund would bounce back very soon and that with the new players expected to get acquainted with the nuances of the club they would leave their present position on the table.
“We are presently not having the best of time. Some of our best players left for greener pasture while our coach Jan Jonsson left and returned to his country. We are also yet to get through the coaching philosophy of new coach.
“We are going to continue to push through to ensure that the club does not go down. We shall bounce back very soon,” Lafitu vowed in a chat with SportingLife.
Aalesund are 15th on the log with one point from three games and they have a Match Day Four tie at home to Tromsoe on Sunday April 26, 2015.