Rafael Everton pleased with winning home debut

Vandrezzer FC Head Coach, Rafael Everton was delighted to mark his first home game as Vandrezzer FC boss with a victory.

After losing to J. Atete in their first game of the campaign, the Brazilian was looking to make an impressive home debut.

Goals from Ekerete Udom and Sampson Hussaini earned the Lions a 2-0 win in Sunday’s Nigeria National League (NNL) matchday three-game against Bayelsa United in Ikot Ekpene.

Everton, 30, said he was pleased with his team’s victory and displays in the evening.

“I have a history in Nigerian football. I was very positive before the game. We took three points here, and the three points with good football,” the former Akwa United coach said during the post-match interview.

“The boys dominated throughout the game, and I’m very happy about it.”

The home side controlled proceedings from the first whistle, but it was not until the 65th minute before they broke the deadlock.

The coach admitted that his players were under pressure after they failed to score in the opening 45 minutes.

“This is a new team. We’ve so many young boys, young talents. The goal didn’t come [in the first half]. We started feeling the pressure, but I was positive; I told the boys that they should be calm, that we’d score.”

The Ibiono Ibom club emerged from the half-time break with renewed vigour and fired two goals past goalkeeper Shuaibu John.

Udom latched onto Christopher Lolo’s pass before firing an unstoppable shot beyond the visitors’ goalie, before Hussaini nodded in Godwin Ekpo’s headed assist following Daniel Victor’s freekick.

The victory earned the Lions praises, and Everton believes that will give them a much-needed boost ahead of their upcoming fixtures.

“The first one came, and the second one came, and others are coming. The first victory gives us strength going into our next games.”

On Saturday, Vandrezzer will travel to Calabar to face Calabar Rovers in a matchday four-game.

When the two teams met in a pre-season friendly in November, the game ended 1-1.