Super Eagles defender Chibuike Nwaiwu praised Trabzonspor new head coach Thomas Reis after the Turkish club produced an emphatic 4-0 victory over Galatasaray in the sixth week of the Trendyol Super Lig on Saturday.
Speaking after the match, Nwaiwu thanked the supporters for their backing and said the players wanted to reward them with the victory.
“First of all, we want to thank our fans who came here to support us and cheered us on until the very last second, and we want to dedicate this victory to them," he said, as quoted by Karadenizgazete.
The Nigerian defender admitted that the preparation for the Galatasaray clash had been demanding but said the team had benefited from working under their new coach.
“It was a tough week for us. You know, we worked all week for this challenging match after the spring break. With our new coach, we’ve been playing with more rhythm, and I want to dedicate this to our fans," he revealed.
Nwaiwu also addressed the coaching change at Trabzonspor, insisting that the players had remained focused on their responsibilities before turning his attention to Reis.
“These coaching changes are a thing of the past in football. We had to focus on our job. If I have to talk about him, I would say he is a very good teacher.
“I think he will become a part of our family. I hope that together we will achieve many successes, that we will win many victories," he stated.
Trabzonspor led 3-0 at half-time, and Nwaiwu revealed that the players were urged to maintain their concentration despite their commanding advantage.
“We went into the locker room at halftime. Among the things we talked about, along with what our coach told us, was that we needed to keep going, maintain the score, and that we could finish the match with even higher scores.
“Because we are up against a formidable opponent. The discussion focused on the need for us to continue in this serious manner," he added.
Nwaiwu, however, stressed that the victory should not lead to complacency as Trabzonspor look ahead.
“After that, we went out there and achieved results with a different mindset. We need to continue working hard in the same way and look ahead," he concluded.
Nwaiwu’s recent performances for Trabzonspor have also earned him a place in Nigeria’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle named the defender among the 24 players selected for the upcoming matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Wale Adejumo
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