Gateway open season with win

Gateway started their campaign in the new season of the National Professional League with a victory over FC Ebiede at the MKO Abiola Stadium on Saturday, beating the visitors 1-0 and putting the OGD Boys in frame for a Nigeria Premier League return.

The hosts took the lead in the first half through an own-goal from an Ebiede defender, after they had wasted several scoring chances.

Gateway coach Samuel Abimbola told our correspondent on the telephone after the game that his team were yet to blend after recruiting new players for the season.

He said, ”We are going to build on the success and go into the next match with confidence. We could have won this game easily but the players will have to grow in confidence gradually as the season progresses.

”Our aim is to make a return to the topflight. We believe that is where we belong because we have the quality and the experience to play at that level.”

Team Manager Tony Rafua has attributed the victory to hard work on the part of the players and the coach, adding that the state government was ready to support the team to get promotion through their campaign.

Gateway‘s next game is against Bayelsa United at Yenagoa on Saturday.

Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201012201102371