Mahanaim Football Club of Abuja hit the ground running in their match day one of the ongoing Unity Preseason Tournament, which kicked off yesterday, at the Old parade ground Football pitch, Abuja.
The fast-rising Abuja-based team comprises of top-quality players, Mahanaim FC, was at home against Doma United based on how the organizers fixed the groupings of this year’s edition of Unity Preseason Tourney, in the Federal Capital Territory.
Mahanaim FC took the battle to DOMA United using their usual identity of ‘Pressing’ from all fronts less than 25 minutes into the game, and the Gombe-based newly promoted Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) side, found the tactical approach of Mahanaim boys quite difficult to understand.
The Mahanaim boys who are tutored by one of the grassroots developers amongst the coaches in the FCT, Saheed Jimoh (Seedorf), adopted precision in mobility style of play which means, every attack on Doma United, most times resulted to free kicks, throwing or corner kicks in their favor.
Paul Ogunkoya, who loves a ‘One Man riot’ attacking instinct was fiercely everywhere in the game, had few numbers of chances but Doma United goalie was up to the tasks and threats posed by ” Paulo”; although, the boys dominated Doma throughout the entire first 45 minutes, making it a one-sided display.
When the second 45 minutes began, Doma United returned aggressively but Mahanaim FC boys used their ability to soak up the pressure of a massive attack from the opponent.
As the match continued, Mahanaim came out smoking by activating all tactical angles of dominance as seen in the number of chances created within 25 minutes into the second half.
The technical crew of Mahanaim realized the game time seemed faster than the speed of light- decided to introduce, Michael Gilbert, known as ‘ Ozil ‘ just 19 minutes before the end of the encounter- while substituting Flying eagles winger and WAFU B winner, Ridwan Seriki, who had Overworked Doma United left back through his innate -ability to run down any defense line whenever he is in top shape.
Ozil came on, made a never give up sort of run inside Doma box-18, in other to bring himself into the game tactically. In Less than six minutes of his introduction, he positioned himself for a well-measured cross from Paul Ogunkoya, and controlled it with his right foot while using the same to take down one of the defenders, who was positioning himself for a blockage of possible goal defensively; however, Gilbert was extremely calm before slotting in the ball with his strong but gifted left foot.
Paul Ogunkoya Jnr, just few minutes to the end of the match created another opportunity for Michael Gilbert and this time around, the poster boy of the day couldn’t convert it due to impatience but has taken that as a learning process.