The InfoStride Forum

ENTERTAINMENT and ADVENTURE => Sports Watch => Topic started by: Folami David on Apr 19, 2013, 08:36 AM

Title: Pillars Have Learned Their African Lessons – Gabriel
Post by: Folami David on Apr 19, 2013, 08:36 AM
Kano Pillars centre-back, Ikechukwu Gabriel believes they have learned their lessons after being eliminated by AC Leopards of Congo from the Caf Champions League.
.
Gabriel claims they were intimidated and harassed from the minute they arrived Brazzaville up to the last kick of the game in the 3-0 second leg defeat, and that it contributed immensely to their downfall.
.
He insists they may have survived the ordeal had they been psychologically prepared for that sort of treatment.
.
"I'm not one that complains after every defeat, but I have never gone through anything like what we experienced in Congo," he said.
.
"We were intimidated by the Congolese right from the airport, and then in the match itself, the officiating was nothing to write home about.
.
"Their first goal was scored from an offside position, and a penalty was manufactured in the last minute that tilted the aggregate scores in their favour.
.
"To cap it all, our dressing room was burgled while the match was in progress.
.
"However, I feel we could have survived their antics if we had information on what to expect as we would have been better prepared for them, and our approach would have been different.
.
"It would be better for most Nigerian sides, and not just Pillars, to have a complete dossier on their opponents in Africa, to guide against such hostility.
.
"We cannot be faulted for our tactics or the effort we put into the match, but we couldn't just cope with the intimidation in the end.
.
"I'm promising Nigerians that we have learned from this experience, and we know what to do the next time we find ourselves in such a situation."
.
Kano Pillars, along with Nigeria's Caf Confederation Cup representatives, Lobi Stars and Heartland, were all surprisingly eliminated in the first round of continental matches concluded a fortnight ago.
Title: Re: Pillars Have Learned Their African Lessons – Gabriel
Post by: Shola Sholaz on Apr 19, 2013, 04:14 PM
The African lesson was a very hard one to learn for the football club. They really have to improve on their play.