Following their exit from the CAF Champions League sl10.ng caught up with Enyimba coach Kadiri Ikhana. The former Nigeria international speaks on the “unfortunate” exit, their failure to once again realize their continental aspirations and also on the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Enjoy.
Coach, so sad that Enyimba have once again failed to make the CAF Champions League group stages, you must be disappointed, aren’t you?
Yes I am, because the minimum target was to get to the group stages but that hasn’t happened which is regrettable and unfortunate. As former champions, we thought we’d at least get to the group stages and try to make it to the semifinal, but that loss in Egypt has ended all that aspiration and what we can do now is concentrate on the league, which is what we have in front of us.
A lot of people believe the tie was lost in the first leg when you could only manage a 1-0 win. Don’t you think you’d have progressed if you scored more goals in Aba?
First and foremost, yes, if we had scored more than one goal in the first leg it would have given us an edge. But was that where we lost out? No. we lost it in the second leg in Egypt because if we had done what we were supposed to do there, it would have been another story. We didn’t and this is the result. We just have to focus on winning the league now.
Talking of winning the league, last season’s winners, Kano Pillars were embarrassed out of the competition. What do you think is the problem with Nigerian club sides on the continent?
It depends based on the individual club. Kano Pillars are the champions and they made some good signings, so I don’t know why it happened to them that way. But you see, these North African teams are always better that’s why we struggle against them most times. They have the resources and the structure, and so they are able to sign some of the best players from Africa and even outside Africa. When it comes to that, you can’t compare. Their players are well paid and well taken care of, whilst here in Nigeria you always hear of players being owed. It is always going to be difficult.
Sl10: So now that you have full concentration on the league, do you think you can wrestle it away from Pillars?
Pillars are a strong with some of the best players in the country, so you have to respect them. But I don’t think it is just going to be about Enyimba and Pillars. There are other teams in the league also that can make things happen so it’s a long season ahead and it won’t be easy at all. But I do believe we can win it this time, if we get our acts right, which is something I think we must do to get to that level. Then there’s the Federation’s Cup that we have to defend. So it’s a long season ahead and I think we will be successful.
Thank you very much for your time coach
Thank you.
