Finidi George’s replacement hails players for making club fans happy on Sunday
After taking over from George earlier in the season, Olanrewaju guided Enyimba to wins in his first two matches against Abia Warriors and Rivers United. However, a subsequent winless streak, including a defeat to eventual champions Enugu Rangers, dashed their hopes of reclaiming the league title.
Their final game against Plateau United was a direct showdown for a Confederations Cup berth, with Plateau just two points behind. Olanrewaju’s team rose to the challenge, delivering a decisive 2-0 victory to clinch third place in the league standings.
Reflecting on the match, Olanrewaju acknowledged the pressure and anxiety among his players and credited a halftime motivational talk for calming their nerves and refocusing their efforts.
He highlighted the team’s resilience and determination to perform for their loyal fans, emphasizing the impact of bringing in a psychologist from Lagos to assist with the mental preparation.
In his words to Brilla, Olanrewaju stated, “It was difficult to motivate the guys. I had to bring a psychologist from Lagos to talk to them. I told the players, ‘People have been here since two o’clock in the sun to watch us. We can’t afford to let them down.’ We played with everything we had to make the fans happy, and eventually, we won 2-0.”
He expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance in delivering the victory, ensuring that Enyimba will participate in continental football for the second consecutive season despite falling short in the title race.
