By Akila Matawal
Otuekong Nse Essien Rockets, popularly called FC ONE Rockets on Saturday pipped Apex Krane of Delta State 1-0 at the training pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, thanks to Simon Daniel’s 50th minute finish.
The hosts were dominant from the start and had opportunities in the first 10 minutes, but Abel Abba’s first minute shot, Ayuba Francis’s volley and Kuku Kingsley’s header all went wide.
Kingsley had another chance minutes later but it was straight at the Apex Krane shotstopper Chidera.
The goalie also denied Abel Abba from the free kick spot and Kuku Kingsley from close range to keep things tidy at the break.
As the second half kick-started, the hosts were more purposeful and broke the deadlock when Simon Daniel exquisitely chested down Ugochukwu Obiri’s pass and fired a low shot that left goalkeeper Chidera with no chance.
Chances came later for both the hosts and visitors but the scoreline remained same.
What the coaches said:
Emmanuel King, FC ONE Rockets
“My assessment will be that it’s the beginning in a competitive match; the beginning in a competitive period. So I have seen the lapses and I intend to correct them. Maybe in the little time possible, the team will be near perfect.”
“It’s the start of the season, just one match and what you need is just win and that will spur them (the players) to the greater height. The expectation will be fulfilled”.
David Felix Ochei, Apex Krane
“First half we were not there. We tried as much as possible to contain them; but the second half we came out and that mistake, it happens.”
“You know it’s our first match and we are just a new team. We are trying to put them together. We look forward to better days ahead. With what we played here and what I see today, we will use it further to make our corrections so that we can improve better.”