SS Lazio of Italy midfielder, Eddy Ogenyi Onazi has expressed happiness with the team’s latest victory in pre-season, especially as it came during a game in which he wore the captain’s band against SPAL 2013 on Saturday.
Although it took the route of penalties shootout for Lazio to eke out victory, following a 1-1 draw at regulation time, Onazi is delighted with the turn of events that saw his side pick up another triumph in pre-season.
Filip Djordjevic put Lazio ahead in the 57th minute, only for Luigi Grassi to equalise for the visitors with just three minutes left on the clock, which Onazi admits made the game twice as pulsating as could ever be expected.
It was a second straight win for Onazi and his pals, under their new manager, Simone Inzaghi, as they had earlier also beaten Calcio Padova three days earlier,.
Onazi, who joined the Rome-based former Serie A champions after winning silver with the Golden Eaglets at Nigeria 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup on home soil, admitted it was a rare privilege for him to lead the squad out in their pre-season programme.
The Jos-born lad, who is now as assistant captain with the Super Eagles, said he was equally thrilled that his teammates put up a brilliant performance in the encounter, despite it being a mere build-up game.
He expressed hope that it marks the sign of things to come, as Lazio aim to regain a huge part of their lost glory in the impending campaign, while also hoping for a return to silverware in Coppa Italia.
Onazi stated on Facebook: “Good test for us with a strong side. Thank God for no injury we keep working hard??.