Enyimba forward, Reuben Bala has pleaded with Nigerians not to give up on the club following Wednesday’s (December 23) Caf Champions League defeat to Sudanese champions, Al-Merrikh Sporting Club in Omdurman.
The Nigerian campaigners were thoroughly beaten thanks to three unanswered goals by the Sudanese giants in the first leg first round of Africa’s first tier inter-club competition.
Bala insisted that the People’s Elephant have the capacity to cancel the huge deficit in the reverse fixture in Aba to advance to the lucrative group stage of the competition.
“It’s a terrible result but I strongly believe that everything will be fine as we look forward to the second leg in Aba.
“We are still in the competition despite the huge disadvantage, all hopes are not lost, we are not giving up hope, and losing is equally part of the game.
“We lost over there in Omdurman which is unfortunate but we will win over here in Aba to qualify for the next stage of the competition, we have the belief that we can do it.
“Of course, we can score four unreplied goals or more, we did it last season against the Burkinabe side, Rahimo. They beat us 1-0 at their home and we won with five unanswered goals in the reverse fixture in Aba.
“Then people thought we will not qualify but we did more than they expected, we can still do it again.
“I know the result shocked Nigerians to their marrows, we tried our best but our best was not good enough to give us victory.
“We played well but they were the ones doing the scoring, that’s football for you. At times you play well and still could not score, I guess that was what happened to us.
“We lost the game yesterday (Wednesday) that does not mean we are poor or have problem, it’s for us to come back home to do the needful.
“We have capable legs to score the goals right here at our backyard in Aba. You know in life when people give up on you that are when your best comes to the fore that is when you are greatly challenged to come up with your best.
“The same way the result shocked some Nigerians leading to disbelieve in us we are going to produce a wonderful result that will further shock them too.
“I believe God is our strength, we are going to win and qualify to the next stage of the competition, and we will do exactly that.
“Nigerians should not give up on us yet but continue to pray for us and this time around we will make them happy and proud,” said the former Plateau United marksman.
The Nigerian campaigners will have to score four unreplied goals in the reverse fixture clash in Aba on January 06 to chance progression to the money spinning group stage of the competition.
Story by Sammy Wejinya
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