Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic has thrown his full support behind Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye after the shot-stopper’s costly mistake in last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Bologna, Footynaija.com reports.
Okoye, who has only just returned to action after serving a ban linked to a betting issue, produced a moment of brilliance early in the game by saving Riccardo Orsolini’s penalty.
But the high point didn’t last long, as an error later in the match gifted Bologna their second goal, a moment that effectively killed Udinese’s chances of mounting a comeback.
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The 26-year-old apologised after the match, admitting the defeat was painful to swallow, but his manager insists the goalkeeper needs time, rhythm and patience to get back to the top of his game.
What Runjaic said about Maduka Okoye
“Okoye didn’t play for weeks. Against Bologna he took an unnecessary risk and we conceded a second goal which ended the game,” Runjaic told Udinese’s official website.
“We’re working very hard but it takes time – growth is a process. It takes time for players to express their full potential.
Despite the error, Runjaic highlighted Okoye’s work ethic in training and emphasized that the Nigerian international is still settling back into competitive tempo after his absence.
The Udinese boss added that several players across the squad are in a similar situation, either returning from time out or yet to feature consistently.
“At a club like Udinese, you have to be able to deal with the less positive moments. I’m not in a hurry. We’ll keep the good things we’ve done and work on the rest,” he said, calling for calm as Udinese navigate what he describes as a growth phase.
Okoye has made six appearances this season, registering one clean sheet and a penalty save.
As Udinese prepare for their next Serie A outing against Parma, Runjaic believes the team’s hard work will begin to reflect in results, stressing the importance of putting points on the board in the coming weeks.
With his coach standing firmly behind him, Okoye now faces the challenge of converting that trust into consistent performances as Udinese look to climb away from danger and stabilise their Serie A campaign.
