Abedi Explains Nania Tactics

Abedi Pele

The chairman of newly-crowned FA Cup champions Nania FC , Abedi Ayew Pele has attributed his side's victory to the playing body's individual brilliance and tactical discipline.

'I have no hand in today's victory. The boys deserve all the praise. They played very well, according to instructions and I would say it paid off,' Pele said after the MTN FA Cup final.

According to the former Black Stars captain, the strict adherence to the tactics of current European Champions Barcelona could also be linked to the success story.

'We packed the midfield so well, we didn't do man-marking; we allowed them enough room to operate but made sure we won all the 50-50 balls. You will realize that when a Nania player lost the ball, there were two or three players to recover,' the soccer maestro added.

The three-time African best player also praised his rear for mustering the courage to contain fine strikers in the persons of Ahmed Toure, the Asamoahs- Alex and Nathaniel- in a game that most pundits ruled Nania out.

The skipper of Nania Lawrence Nartey also revealed that he and his colleagues had always looked for an opportunity to prove a point saying, 'We gave them the needed respect as our seniors, but we matched them boot for boot on the field of play. We also wanted  to make a strong case for clubs in the lower division as well as prompt scouts for the various national teams that they should cast their nets wider, because there are equally good players in that division.'

Nania beat FA Cup defending champions Asante Kotoko 1-0  in extra time last Sunday at the Accra Stadium to lift the MTN FA Cup.

By Kofi Owusu Aduonum