LMC Super Six has been a blessing, says Ikhana

DESPITE failing to retain their Super Six crown, Enyimba coach, Kadiri Ikhana, says it has been more of a blessing for his team than anything else.

  The People’s Elephants won the same competition in style last year, but has struggled to re-enact the form that saw them win the mini-tournament in 2014, even losing 0-2 to the Flying Eagles and playing out a 1-1 draw against the Dream Team.

   However, Ikhana says playing in the tournament has afforded them the opportunity of sizing up their new recruits, and also getting his players into a competitive mood.

   “I think the most important thing is what the tournament has done for us, than we actually winning it. It has been more of a blessing,” he told SL10.ng.

  “Of course it would have been good to win it, but we have used this opportunity to see our new players and also get the team in a competitive mood,” he said.

   The 2003 CAF Champions League winner, however, blamed late resumption for their failure to play better.

   “We only just resumed shortly before the Super 6, so we had limited time to prepare. But thank God we have played it and we have seen areas that we need to work on and hopefully we will do just that before the start of the new season,” he said.

  Meanwhile, this competition has not been a good hunting ground for Dolphis.

  The Port Harcourt team finished as the bottom team when they lost 2-1 to Warri Wolves in their final match of the competition.

 Dolphins, who will represent Nigeria in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup, lost all five matches with the defeat by Wolves the final nail on their coffin. Wolves recorded six points.

  Nigeria beach international Abu Azeez was the match winner for Wolves a minute to full time when he fired a left-footed shot past Sunday Rotimi in the Dolphins post.

  Emeka Atuloma of Dolphins was sent off in the 58th minute after second booking.

 Dolphins took the lead through Onyekachi Akakem in the fifth minute, but Warri Wolves drew level in the 35th minute through Sikiru Adewale off Joseph Osadiaye’s pass.