Abia Warriors got the taste of the pill they forced on former champions and state neighbours, Enyimba International when the Wolves from Warri came to Umuahia to claim all three points on Sunday.
As disappointing as the result could be to the Premier League debutants, Coach Ladan Bosso was quick to take it in his chin, describing it as not uncommon in football, while the club chairman, Chief Emeka Inyama blamed the attackers for lost opportunities in front of goal.
Bosso was however uncharitable in his choice of words for the Abia Warrior defenders, Wasiu Sowemimo and Uche Oguchi, whom he held accountable for the Austine Abutu strike in the first half that turned out the only goal of the evening.
“Their goal was a very clean goal, it was a defensive blunder. We simply will have to return to the drawing board and see what went wrong that can improve our performance but there are basic questions that need to be asked the defenders”, roared a distraught Bosso.
It would have been more humiliating had Martins Odechi converted the 61st minute penalty that resulted from an Oguchi mistimed tackle on Amutu.
Looking back at the missed penalty, Bosso, who led Bayelsa United to a third place finish last season, heaved a sigh filled with relief, “Thank God they missed that penalty because though I disagreed with the circumstance that the Referee awarded the penalty, I am happy they lost it”.
Chairman of Abia Warriors, Inyama still sounded shocked when asked to react to the team’s defeat on their hallowed Umuahia Township Stadium ground as he uttered, “it wasn’t like we didn’t play well, you know hearing the result without watching the game, you would think they outplayed and outclassed us but that was not the case. Our boys were extremely profligate and squandered several opportunities created while Warri Wolves cashed on the few they had to win”.
It was the second defeat in as many games for Abia Warriors who midweek slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Rangers International in Enugu and dropped three places from 11th to 14th on the log. Bosso will on Wednesday lead the squad to Port Harcourt for a date with Dolphins Football Club.