INTERVIEW: Nigerians should show us more respect- Coach Ogenyi

Coach Evans Ogenyi replaces Stanley Eguma, as Rivers United head coach after his removal in the aftermath of loss at Remo by 2-1 in the ongoing NPFL. Coach Ogenyi spoke briefly to DDM on why the sack will not affect the club’s fortune while also commenting on the club’s tight fixtures.

Doesn’t the sack of Stanley Eguma, head coach of Rivers United put you under strain? 

You know Rivers United is a big club like Enyimba. We brought together very sound coaches. It’s a consortium of coaches. I worked in Enyimba, Eguma worked in Enyimba. After promoting Kano Pillars Last year, I was drafted into the Technical committee of Rivers United. So it doesn’t matter. We are all big coaches, we are CAF A license coaches and FIFA certified. I am coaches coach and not just an ordinary coach. I am not under any pressure at all. I have handled many teams in the Premiership before maybe many of you don’t know me. I have led three teams to the continent as head coach. In my first assignment in Bayelsa I won the FA Cup with then Ocean Boys.  I am not a boy coach in Nigeria

A draw in Ilorin away from home after 2-1 slump in Ikenne, coach is this a planned outcome for you?

No team in the premier league is a push over. Before coming to Ilorin, we knew that our host was in precarious position. They are also desperate to win to see to the improvement of their chances in the log. Don’t forget two that they are one the few teams that played us a draw. So we came here with a tactics that if we cannot win outright, then we settle for a draw. So you see, a match of this magnitude can go either way. But praise the resilience of my boys, Kwara United is very good team, very mobile. But my boys were able to contain their fire power. So the result is not so bad.

Returning from the continental, what you have on your hands as fixture must be pretty tight. How are you coping?

We are condemned to play. It is just that we deserve some respect in Nigeria. Rivers United today restored those four chances to Nigeria in the CAF continental club competition. We have no choice than to actually play the fixtures. So we play each match as it comes. We stil have about three matches to go.

Are you leaving matters that way? No plans to protest?

No. But I am not in the position to say much about it. my management should handle that. But as soldier going to war, you should always be prepared.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook