Unicorns FC on Saturday defeated Harlem FC by 5-3 on post-match penalty shootouts to advance to the semifinal stage of the ongoing Serrekunda West Sports Organisation (SWESO) Seaview sponsored knockout competition after playing a goalless draw on regulation time at the Serrekunda West Mini-stadium.
Speaking to Pointsports shortly after the game, Dodou Kinteh, head coach of Unicorns, said they worked very hard to achieve the glory, adding that they had nothing to lose because they came with the aim of collecting the maximum three points
“We were here to play and show people that we are relegated from the league but do not deserve to be relegated,” he stated, claiming that it was the same Harlem FC they defeated that backed another team during the league for them to be relegated.
“We are here to play and win every game,” he said, adding that they should have even won the game during the full 90 minutes of play but that winning on penalty shootouts was also fine.
“We came into this game without even having a complete squad because we are just from the Tobaski and most of our players have not been training, but we motivated the players we had,” he remarked.“We relegated in the nawettan proper because of bad officiating and also Harlem FC’s backing another team for us to be relegated but anybody who watched us play knows that we do not deserve to be relegated,” he added.
Concluding, he said they would continue to urge the fans of the team to be patient whilst they as a team do their best to please them.
Mustapha Jatta, alias ‘Baka’, head coach of Harlem, said football is either win or loss, adding that they had chances during the game but could not capitalize on them.
He added that they would go back and prepare well for next year as well as scout more young talented players.
“We prepared well for this game and also played good football,” he said, adding: “But that this is how it ended and that all we have to do is thank the fans of the team and prepare stronger for next year.”