The derby pits Vandrezzer against neighbours, FC Nilayo. The Lagos side pipped the hard-fighting Abeokuta outfit 1-0 in Saturday’s Nigeria National League (NNL) Southern Conference B1 matchday 2 clash at the ‘Soccer Temple’ Agege Stadium in Lagos.
Captain of the side, Christopher Lolo’s well-taken penalty in the 5th minute of the hotly contested clash proved adequate to hand the Alfred Madaki tutored side their first home victory in the two-week-old Nigerian second-tier league.
Otop said the match truly lived up to its pre-match billing as derby as both sides came out fiercely and strongly to swing the pendulum to its own favour but added that the better side won the contest at the end of the day.
“I think it’s a good start for me in this season, there are wonderful players in the team, we play as one unit and I’m really privileged to be among the galaxy of stars here.
“Subsequently and together I know we will continue to make it and make it really big, so I’m excited with the wonderful debut performance and the victory.
“The match was a nice one, a very competitive one at that being our first game at home, we were not under pressure, I think we played very well and rightly deserved this hard fought winning.
“This is how derby games are. You cannot predict the outcome till the last blast of the whistle. It lived up to its billing and the better side won,” said the former Abia Warriors goal poacher.
Otop said his side first home game victory has become the real tonic his side needed to push their campaign to the summit.
“A win today gave us a head start among our rivals, I think this victory alone is a good start to what is to come in subsequent matches.
“Actually, we are on a target to engage in an unbeaten run, I think that unbeaten run has started, we will keep it to the end,” said the well-built goal king.
Otop said they matched their South West neighbours perfectly well in all the departments of the game.
“I do not think they were superior or tough.We played according to our game plan and we won at the end of the day,” said Otop.
The hard won victory against FC Nilayo has increased Vandrezzer FC points tally to four after two round of matches in the Nigeria National League (NNL).
Story by Humphrey Njoku
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