Barau FC General Manager Dominic Iorfa has praised his players for their resilience after they secured a 0-0 draw against Kun Khalifat in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The Matchday 2 encounter was played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, with Barau FC forced to deal with difficult circumstances before kick-off.
Difficult journey affected Barau FC
Iorfa revealed that the team’s journey from Owerri Airport to their hotel was disrupted after their bus developed a serious mechanical problem.
Several players reportedly suffered different levels of injury during the incident, although the club chose not to make a major issue of the situation.
Players competed despite carrying knocks
According to Iorfa, many of the players still featured in the match despite carrying knocks from the incident.
He praised their mental strength and determination, saying the squad remained focused and fought hard to secure a valuable point.
Iorfa admits Barau FC also needed some luck
The former Lobi Stars boss acknowledged that Barau FC benefited from some fortune defensively.
He pointed out that his defenders cleared the ball off the line three times during the game and admitted that one of those chances could easily have resulted in a goal for Kun Khalifat.
Late opportunity for Barau FC
Despite spending parts of the match under pressure, Barau FC also had a late chance to claim all three points.
Al Ameen Umar came close to finding the winner but sent his effort narrowly over the crossbar.
Iorfa satisfied with the point
Considering the injuries, difficult travel experience and pressure from Kun Khalifat, Iorfa believes the draw was a positive result.
The 0-0 scoreline gives Barau FC another point in the NPFL and provides encouragement as the team continues its campaign.
For Iorfa, the biggest positive was the character shown by his players in overcoming adversity and remaining competitive until the final whistle.