Having spent almost eight years in the second tier of Nigeria National League (NNL), Bayelsa United Football club finally made a return to the big time last season, but it has not been the best of time for the Prosperity Boys.
After the first round of matches, Coach Diepreye Teibowei’s Tutored side have recorded just one win all season which has seen them at the bottom of group B with Just 8 points after three points was deducted from the team by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) for a fan assault on referee in their home game against Doma United FC.
Why is Bayelsa United Struggling?
Lack of goal scoring has been the undoing for the Prosperity Boys as they have only scored nine goals in nine matches which is an average of one goal per match, certainly it’s not good enough if you want to play in the top flight.
Also the team has lacked goal scorers so far this season with just four players scoring all season which are Mizo Robert with five goals, while Daniel Ekpo, Isreal Consul, Osaro Osahon all have one goal each.
With few goals scored in the first round of the season they have also failed to keep clean sheets in their nine matches having conceded a total of fifteen goals.
Getting away wins has proved difficult in the Nigeria Premier Football League in the last few years but bayelsa United have not helped their course either by failing to win in four of their home matches with just one home win recorded all season against Wikki Tourist FC while the team has suffered three defeats in their away matches with just one draw.
If getting away wins has proven hard to come by, the Prosperity Boys must make sure they have a better home record in the second round of the season if they are to avoid relegation.
The Way Forward
The second round of the season will resume in a week time and quality players must be brought in to shore up the team as they lacked depth during the first round of the season.
The team need to start scoring goals, other attacking players must step up as only four players have scored all season, the team must strive to be invincible at home by winning all home matches as they were during the NNL season and get vital away points as well.
Other aspects of the team that has to improve is their pattern of play, there has to be fluidity and flexibility in their team play, at times it’s too rigid and predictable which makes it difficult for them to break teams down when in search of goal.
Over all, The Prosperity Boys all-round team play need to improve, they have to be more purposeful, adventurous especially in the final third added with more determination if they are to move up the table. The defense must stop conceding too many goals and keeping clean sheets.
Outside the field of play, the management of the team must make sure that everything is put in place to ensure a better second round of the season, funds must be provided for scouting, the government should provide Impress to run the club also they must implement the new salary structure for the NPFL season and support the team more in this trying times as a way of motivating the players to do more.
First Round Results of Bayelsa United Matches In Group B
Bayelsa United 2-2 Rivers United
Bayelsa United 1-1 Enugu Rangers
Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Bayelsa United
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Bayelsa United
Bayelsa United 1-1 Doma United
Lobi Stars 3-0 Bayelsa United
Bayelsa United 2-1 Wikki Tourist
Abia Warriors 3-1 Bayelsa United
Bayelsa United 1-1 Dakkada
Stats of First Round Matches
Matches Played = 9
Match Won = 1
Defeats = 3
Drawn Matches = 5
Total Goals Scored = 9
Goal Scorers:
Mizo Robert = 5 goals
Isreal Consul = 1 goal
Ekpo Daniel = 1goal
Osaro Osahon = 1goal
Average Goals Per Match = 1
Goals Conceeded = 15
Average Goals Conceeded Per Match = 1.35
Points Accrued = 8
League Position = 10
This review is sponsored by Independent Grassroots Sports Development Association (IGSDA)
