Chief Ugochukwu John Kennedy Duru, former president of Island All-Stars and head coach of Team D, Remed Healthcare, has expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance after securing a 1-0 victory over Wellborn Hotels in Matchweek 2 of the Island AllStars Sports Club PatrickLingo Super League Football Tournament at the Lagos Business School Sports Arena.
The victory earned Remed Healthcare their first win and maximum points in the competition, with Duru praising his players’ commitment while acknowledging that there is still room for improvement, particularly in their physical readiness and finishing.
Speaking in an interview with Sports247, the experienced coach described the performance as impressive and expressed confidence that his players would deliver even better displays in subsequent fixtures.
“It was a fantastic performance. I would say that some of my players are still building their stamina, but they have done well overall. I commend them for their efforts, and I am confident that they will improve in our next match,” he said.
Half-Time Adjustments Made the Difference
Despite creating several opportunities in the first half, Remed Healthcare struggled to convert their chances, with the coach admitting that his team could have scored two or three goals before the interval.
Duru revealed that he used the half-time break to address tactical shortcomings, particularly the goalkeeper’s tendency to hold on to possession for too long and allow Wellborn Hotels to reorganise defensively.
“You learn from your mistakes. In the first half, our goalkeeper often held on to the ball, allowing our opponents to recover their defensive shape,” he explained.
He added that the team needed to move the ball more quickly to take advantage of the quality of its attacking players.
“We had to make him understand that when the opposition is attacking, retaining possession and moving the ball quickly can give us an advantage, especially because we have two excellent attackers. I believe that adjustment was what eventually helped us find the breakthrough,” Duru stated.
With the competition becoming increasingly competitive, Duru made it clear that his focus remains firmly on securing another victory rather than worrying about other teams.
“I have no special message for the other teams. All I know is that we have secured these three points, and I am already looking forward to the next three,” he declared.
The coach also stressed that Remed Healthcare are determined to avoid further dropped points in the tournament.
“We are determined not to lose or draw any more matches in this tournament,” he added.
Reflecting on the team’s earlier defeat, Duru noted that setbacks can provide valuable lessons, helping players identify weaknesses and return stronger.
With their first victory secured, Remed Healthcare will now aim to maintain their momentum and strengthen their position in the PatrickLingo Super League.
