Nasarawa United technical adviser Mbwas Mangut believes his side will continue to improve as the EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League season develops, after securing their first victory of the campaign.
The Solid Miners defeated Bendel Insurance 1-0 in a hard-fought Matchday Two encounter at Lafia City Stadium on Sunday.
Sam Pam scored the only goal 10 minutes after half-time, giving Nasarawa United all three points and providing a positive response to their opening-day defeat by Barau FC.
Nasarawa United had lost that fixture 3-1, making the victory over Bendel Insurance a welcome result for Mangut and his players.
Mangut acknowledged that his team had been tested by Bendel Insurance but said he was encouraged by the signs of progress within the squad.
“It was a difficult game for us. It’s only our second game of the season, and I can boldly say that we are improving game by game,” Mangut told the club’s media.
The technical adviser said some of his players had been too focused on satisfying the supporters instead of following the team’s instructions, an approach that contributed to mistakes during the game.
“Somehow, my players seemed to want to please the fans instead of circulating the ball and playing according to our instructions, which exposed us to some mistakes.
“However, we are still a very fresh team, blending experience with youthfulness, and I know we will get better as the campaign progresses.
Nasarawa United’s squad is combining experienced players with younger members, and Mangut expects that balance to develop further as the season continues.
The result leaves the club with a first win from their opening two matches, following their defeat by Barau FC in the opening fixture and Sunday’s success against Bendel Insurance.
Mangut said the early stage of the campaign gives the team time to correct its shortcomings and continue working on the style of play he wants from his players.
“The league is still fresh, and we are going to work harder and smarter as we prepare for our next game against Rangers International FC in Abeokuta. We are hoping to get a decent result there.”
The match against Rangers International FC in Abeokuta will be Nasarawa United’s next opportunity to build on the victory over Bendel Insurance.
Mangut’s side will aim to produce another improved performance as they seek to establish momentum in the EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League.
The win was also a relief after the disappointing result against Barau FC, while the clean-sheet victory gave Nasarawa United an early platform on which to build.
Mangut said the team’s improvement would depend on continued work as the campaign progresses, with the players expected to become more settled and effective after gaining further competitive experience.