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“We Missed Our Twelfth Player” Says Coach Gbenga Ogunbote After Plateau United fc Ran Riot Over Ikorodu City fc
Plateau United head coach Gbenga Ogunbote, has expressed concern over the absence of supporters during his side’s emphatic 4–1 victory over Ikorodu City, describing the fans as the team’s “twelfth player.”
The Matchday 33 fixture, originally scheduled to be played in Jos, was relocated to Lafia City Stadium due to security concerns following the recent Palm Sunday killings in Jos.
Speaking after the match, Ogunbote noted that although the team appreciated the support they received in Lafia, the absence of their home fans was deeply felt.
“Honestly, we missed our twelfth player—our supporters. Nevertheless, for one reason or the other, we enjoyed the support we had here, but we would have loved the game to be played in Jos,” he said.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, the coach praised his players for dominating possession and securing a crucial win, while emphasizing that the team is still not safe from relegation with six matches remaining in the season.
“I made them understand that playing a good game entails both beauty and success. We want to play decently and win. We cannot afford to toy with this game because a draw or a loss would have taken us to 14th or 15th position, which would have been a temporary setback. We thank God for the victory,” Ogunbote added.
Ogunbote also highlighted the impact of his substitutes, who injected energy and contributed significantly to the scoreline. He singled out Ossy Martins, who netted a brace, noting that the striker had been under pressure to deliver.
“They were told to take their chances, especially Ossy Martins—it’s long overdue for him to score because he is paid to do so,” he said.
The coach also challenged Kazeem Adeyanju to capitalize on opportunities to reclaim a starting position, stressing that consistency remains key in team selection.
“You don’t easily change a winning team. Thank God they came in and made the difference with goals,” he concluded.
Ogunbote extended appreciation to fans who traveled to Lafia as well as those who supported the team from afar through prayers.
Plateau United’s convincing victory keeps them competitive as the season approaches its final stretch, with the battle to avoid relegation still very much open.
Credit: Nathaniel Mobolade
