After third straight defeat, Okpodu says Wolves are improving

MATCH day three saw Warri Wolves losing 0-1 to the Flying Eagles to make it three defeats from three games in the Glo Premier League Super-Six, but assistant Coach, Sam Okpodu, insists that the team’s performance overall has been improving. 

  Okpodu stood in for Paul Aigbogu at the post match conference after a Musa Mohammed first half goal ensured that the Flying Eagles kept their 100 per cent tournament record at the National Stadium in Abuja yesterday.

 Okpodu described the encounter with the National U-20 side as their best in the tournament and dismissed any suggestion that they are troubled by the defeats.

  “In terms of ball possession, the team has improved and we intend to keep improving. We have not been outplayed in all three games and the goals that we conceded are not the type that gives cause for worry,” declared Okpodu.

  The coach admitted that the players have been poor in front of goal and said it is an area that they will be emphasizing on going forward.

  “We will work to make our ball possession count and that is one of the positives we have extracted from the tournament. We dominated play against the Flying Eagles which is a marked improvement from the earlier two games but yes, the final outcome in all the games have not made us happy but we will work on the finishing of the squad,” Okpodu submitted.

  He echoed similar sentiments expressed by other coaches at the tournament that the competition is a laboratory to try out players and formations preparatory to the continental Club Championships next month.

  “At Warri Wolves, we have been trying out new players and we are looking at how to get them playing as a unit. Scoring looks like a problem now but we will work on the scoring abilities of the team. 

Our playing the national teams is good for us because they have given us a good challenge, remember they have been playing as a unit and are the best players selected from different sides,” he said.