Bala says continental talk unsettling
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The Ikon Allah Boys were held to a goalless draw by the Flying Antelopes in top-flight matchday 25 clash in Lokoja.
Bala said the discordant tunes and reactions coming from all quarters as a result of the draw against the Coal City side will only succeed to put undue pressure on the side’s campaign and focus in the on-going top-flight.
“The barren draw against Enugu Rangers is not a big deal we can always get a better result in other matches.
“The way the result is been interpreted in some quarters as a huge setback in the side’s quest for a continental ticket is quite erroneous and misleading.
“First and foremost, Niger Tornadoes under my care never set out or promised from inception of the on-going top-flight to clinch a continental spot.
“Perhaps the side’s impressive fourth finish at the end of
the first stanza may have somehow put the idea of a possible ticket to Africa in some people’s mind.
“Now virtually everybody is sleeping and waking up dreaming of a continental ticket at the end of the season.
“I tabled a four-season project at the start of the season, first season which is the on-going is to stabilise the team, next is to eye a continental ticket then the last season is to vie for the league title.
“Last season we finished our campaign on the 11th position while our best shot this term is to finish among the top 10 teams.
“I’m not averse to winning continental ticket in the on-going top-flight if we could achieve the feat but that’s not on programme and it will not be right to take it upon the players by a way of undue and unnecessary pressure.
“Good we drew with Enugu Rangers we remain on track to achieving our season’s target and the best anyone could do to the team is to help the players to stay focus and not to encumber them with continental talk.
“My target remains to finish among the top 10, I did not promise anyone continental ticket, I want the team to stabilise first and foremost then from next season with same set of players we will now chase continental spot.
“Persistent talk on continental ticket will only succeed to derail the team’s focus which may even hinder the realisation of the set target.
“I plead with all interests to avoid the unnecessary distraction and pressure on the players over the continental talk to allow them full concentration on prosecuting other matches on the calendar,” said the former FC Lokoja coach to supersport.com.
The Minna landlords are 10th on the 20-team top-flight log on 37 points eight behind league leaders, Plateau United and will have a date on Wednesday at newcomers, Katsina United.
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