Enyimba’s Deutsch says side ready for Katsina United test

Enyimba technical adviser Emmanuel Deutsch says his team are prepared for Friday’s Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday Eight meeting with Katsina United.

The People’s Elephant will visit the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium looking to maintain the improved form that has lifted them after a difficult opening to the season.

The nine-time Nigerian champions have taken seven points from their past three league games, recording two wins and a draw. That run has followed a first five matches in which they failed to win.

Despite the recent improvement, Deutsch has urged his players to remain disciplined and avoid becoming distracted by their results.

“We will not be carried away by the results from our past three matches. We will take it one game at a time, as it comes,” Deutsch told Enyimba’s media team.

The German also acknowledged the importance of Friday’s fixture while stressing that the league campaign remains a long-term challenge.

“We will not be carried away because the league is a marathon. We will see what Friday brings. We are ready for the match tomorrow.”

Deutsch said the squad’s response to its poor start demonstrated the importance of professionalism and concentration. He accepted that setbacks were part of a season but warned that players could not allow outside distractions to affect their work.

“Challenges are normal. But if you let the distractions carry you away, that means you’re not a professional,” he said.

“You should leave everything behind and focus on the job. When you focus on your duty, you plan and you see results.”

The Enyimba adviser’s comments come as the club attempt to build on their recent sequence and continue their recovery in the NPFL. However, he made clear that past performances would have no bearing on the approach required against Katsina United.

Enyimba will therefore begin the encounter at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium seeking another positive result, while Deutsch expects his players to remain focused on the immediate task rather than the progress made over their previous three matches.