Coach Usman Abdellah of Katsina United Football Club has said that the target of the club is to return to the elite division of Nigeria football.
Abdellah stated this on Sunday in Asaba, after the Katsina-based club defeated DMD Football Club of Maiduguri 2-1 in the second game of the NNL super 8 competition at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.
“It is a good thing that we won our first game at this super 8 competition. The three points is the most important thing as we go into our matches.
“Thank God we have started on a winning note and I give kudos to the boys because they fought gallantly knowing why we are here.
“Our target is a return to the NPFL, the top division of football in Nigeria because that is where we belong”, Abdellah said.
The club’s two goals came in the 12th and 22nd minutes of the second half of the encounter.
Striker, Victor Mbama grabbed a brace for Katsina United in a first half dominated by the boys from Katsina, before the centre referee, Promise Amadi from Rivers sounded the whistle for the end of first half.
Upon resumption of the second half, DMD FC`s efforts paid off in the 34th minute when a Katsina United defender handled the ball in the 18 yard box.
The resultant penalty was calmly converted by Seidu Salisu, who sent the Katsina goalkeeper the wrong way to register DMD’s only consolation goal of the game.
Speaking after the game, the Technical Adviser of DMD FC, Ahmed Mohammed said that his boys did not deserve to lose the game.
“We played a good game, in short we dominated the game. I commend the efforts of the boys because they did their best.
“We conceded the two goals in the first half, but you see when we came in the second half, we took the game to them. We know Katsina United are beatable.
“I believe we still have a good chance of progressing in this competition. You will see a better DMD team in our next game”, Mohammed said.
In the third match of the day, Sporting Lagos Football Club defeated FC One Rocket also of Lagos by a lone goal scored in the 43rd minute of the second half.