Gombe United goalkeeper Itodo Akor has spoken about his team’s resurgence defensively this season.
After conceding a goal during their 1-1 draw at Nasarawa United on Saturday, Itodo missed out a chance to make history by becoming the first goalkeeper in the clubs’s history to go four consecutive games without conceding a goal.
So far this season Itodo has kept six clean sheets as they now occupy the sixth position on the Group A table with 18 points from 14 games and just 5 points keeping them adrift of third position which is currently occupied by Akwa United.
Itodo has now said while it’s good to have their defence now settled, it’s time they started winning games.
Following their draw at Nasarawa United, Itodo conceded it was two points dropped.
“I would always put the team first and even swap a clean sheet for a victory all day long,” Itodo told Lodgexpress.com. “Apparently we can now boast of having a strong defence better now than we were, but we have to win because that is what really matters.”
While goalscoring has been a problem for Gombe United this season, only Bendel Insurance have conceded less in the Nigeria Premier Football League Group A.
Asked to give reasons for the turnaround, Itodo said: “I think it has so much to do with our mentality.
“Because everybody helps out in defending duties when we’re under pressure, even the striker is sometimes defending in the box and then you can see the difference.
“As it stands it is much tougher to score goals against us and even to create clear chances.
“Personally, of course as a goalie, it is always better to have a clean sheet but I think to be a successful team the defence is much more important thing.”
