Nzoia Sugar head coach Charles Odero attributed his team’s stalemate against Nairobi United to the unfamiliar artificial turf at Dandora Stadium.Odero, who previously led APS Bomet to promotion, emphasized that his players’ inexperience on synthetic surfaces cost them valuable points.“Most of my players are used to natural grass, so playing on artificial turf presented a big challenge,” Odero explained. “The surface disrupted our rhythm and ball control, making it difficult to execute our game plan.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8378036##Chris Ochieng itching to fill gap left by Omalla at Gor MahiaLooking ahead, the coach vowed to prepare his squad for future encounters on such surfaces.“We’ll ensure the team gains more experience on artificial pitches to prevent similar setbacks. We also need to build resilience and learn to adapt to different playing conditions,” Odero added.Aside from the turf, Odero expressed his frustration with the match officials, citing poor decisions that influenced the game.“There was a blatant foul in the box, but the referee waved it off,” a visibly upset Odero said. “It’s frustrating when such obvious decisions are overlooked.”He also criticized the officials for failing to discipline Nairobi United players who, according to him, committed several fouls deserving of cards.“We were denied fair refereeing. These decisions disrupted the flow of the game, and something needs to be done to ensure fairness on the pitch,” Odero emphasized.Is Metto seeking a third term at Sports Kenya?Despite the 0-0 draw being a missed opportunity for the Sugar Millers to secure three crucial points, Odero remained optimistic about the team’s ability to adapt and improve.He acknowledged that their next match would be vital as they seek to rebound from two consecutive draws. Nzoia played to a 1-1 draw with Fortune Sacco in their season opener and currently sits 13th in the 20-team league.Odero concluded by saying the team will focus on improving their technical play on artificial surfaces while striving for greater consistency in their overall performance.
