Enyimba FC attacker Joseph Atule has expressed hope that scoring his first goal for the club can open door for many more goals for him, www.aclsports.com reports.
After about ten games in all competitions, Atule finally scored his first goal for the People’s Elephant in their 2-1 win over Bendel Insurance in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) game decided at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba on Wednesday.
Atule received a short corner from his fellow substitute Elijah Akanni in the 70th minute, shimmied past a marker before sending a rasping drive, using two Insurance defenders to impair the vision of Amas Obasogie who got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out. The rescheduled Match Day 2 game’s opening goal came after the attacker had twice been denied by Insurance goalkeeper Obasogie in point blank range.
When asked after the game how relieved he is that he eventually got the monkeys off his back, Atule said these things do happen.
“Things like this usually happen to players when you come to a new club because of the new environment and new challenges. I’m so happy that I was able to record a goal today and I hope it will open doors for me,” said Atule to www.aclsports.com
Regardless of his poor start to the season (by his lofty standards), Atule appreciates the way the Enyimba fans and staff had taken him in after leaving the Northern parts of Nigeria to play in the South for the first time in his career.
“I must say Aba is a good city. I was well received by the fans, my teammates, the coaches and everybody and I must say that I’m enjoying the club. Everything is going well and we’re working very very hard to achieve our goals.”
Atule is a goal getter no doubt and in spite of his club’s not too inspiring start to the season, the former Katsina United star insists that the target of Enyimba, coached by Super Eagles legend Finidi George remains as high as it has always been.
“Our targets are very high and I’m certain and sure that with the quality of players we have, the hard work I do see in training and matches, I know that we are going to defend the title this time around,” he summed.
Enyimba’s next game will see them travel to nearby Owerri to face beleaguered Heartland FC in an Oriental Derby at the Dan Anyiam Stadium on Saturday. Considering that Enyimba have not beaten Heartland in four years, the importance of the game to their season ambitions cannot be overemphasised.
