Lagos-based MFM FC, which put up a superlative effort to defeat visiting Kastina United 3-2 on Monday, has said it is not obsessed with winning the Nigeria Professional Football League.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Match Day 31 encounter scheduled for Sunday was shifted to Monday morning due to heavy downpour at the Soccer Temple, Agege Stadium.
The match, however, witnessed nervy moments as the visitors almost sprang surprise, but the Olukoya Boys were able to defeat the Changi Boys at the dying minutes of the game.
Reacting to the match, MFM spokesman, Olawale Quadri, told NAN that the club was not obsessed with winning the league; rather, it was an ambition based on conviction.
Quadri said: “It is true that we put some determination in our matches but we are not obsessed with winning the league, we are just playing the game as it should be.
“Right from the start of the preparation for the league, we set our target maybe to win the league but as the competition progressed, we found out that we can win the league.
“Our pursuit of the league title is based on conviction and not desperation. We are not in any way desperate to win the league.
“That is not the only thing we are talking about.
“We want a continental ticket too.
“It’s not a bad idea if we have a target playing in the league.
“The players know what they want.”
Quadri said the call up of the regulars of the team, Sikiru Olatunbosun and Stephen Odey, to the national team would not affect the clubs campaign in the league.
He said: “The call-up of Olatunbosun and Odey will not affect the team.
“We have made arrangement for good replacement in their absence.
“We have reserves that are able to step into their shoes, so there won’t be any vacuum in the team.
“The coach knows what to do.
“Both players have been in the national team before and we still won our matches, about two matches, so there is no problem about their absence.
“However, the national team handlers have promised to release the players for the weekend games, I think that is fair enough.”
NAN reports that goals from Odey, Olatunbosun and Onuwa Chukwuka propelled MFM to second spot on the NPFL log after a hard earned win over Katsina United.
However, in spite of the early morning schedule of the game, the fans still came out in appreciable number to support their darling team.
Odey, NPFL leading scorer, scored his 18th goal of the 2016/2017 season in the 15th minute of the match off an assist from Olatunbosun.
He chipped the onrushing Katsina goalkeeper, Dami Paul, with his head and then finished the ball neatly.
The Olukoya Boys rounded off the first 45 minutes in an emphatic fashion with the second goal of the day.
Odey located his strike partner, Olatunbosun, with a brilliant pass in the 29th minute of the game; the left-footed player doubled his teams lead with a great finish.
The Baldwin Bazuaye men however put their acts together after Onuwa’s attempt and scored two goals under five minutes.
Destiny Ashadi reduced his side’s deficit off a well taken free kick in the 70th minute.
Obinna Eleje brought the game to level terms netting the second goal for the visitors after connecting a pass from Ashadi.
The 78th minute of the entertaining match witnessed a defining moment for the home team.
Petit midfielder, Onuwa Chukwuka, regained the lead for MFM FC with his first goal of the season. He was assisted by Olatunbosun.
The game ended in a 3-2 triumph for the Olukoya Boys who are now sitting in second position on the 20-team NPFL table with 52 points from 31 league matches.