Leadership (Abuja)
3 January 2009
After going on a short break to celebrate the Christmas holidays, action resumes today in week 17 of the on-going Globacom Premier League.
It is expected that teams challenging for honours will come out firing on all cylinders as the short break must have given coaches time to re-strategise.
The first fixture for this weekend will see Gateway FC of Abeokuta play hosts to Kaduna United at the MKO Abiola Stadium. The Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) boys have recorded just four victories in sixteen appearances and will hope for another victory as they file out against the boys from Kaduna.
Defending champions Kano pillars will take on second-placed Heartland of Owerri. The defending champions started the campaign on a shaky note but have since got their acts together and are currently on top of the table. The game which comes up at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano will be a boost to Pillars, as they will be cheered on by their home fans.
Action in the North-East zone of the country will be between Wikki Tourists of Bauchi versus two-time CAF Champions League winners, Enyimba of Aba, at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi. Wikki Tourists are next to Enyimba on the League table, and a win this afternoon will see Wikki topple the people's elephants on the league standings.
In what will seem like a North-Central derby, bottom-placed JUTH FC of Jos will host neighbours, Nasarawa United at the Jos Township Stadium. The Jos-based outfit have been far from impressive this season with just two victories from 16 appearances. JUTH FC will need to win this game and other games ahead if they hope to escape relegation.
At the Warri Township Stadium, Premier League debutants, Warri FC will welcome Sunshine Stars of Akure this afternoon. The Globacom Premier League newcomers have superseded expectations with their impressive displays in their first season. It is hoped that the Warri team will continue their winning streak against a solid Sunshine Stars of Akure.
Second from bottom-placed, Niger Tornadoes of Minna, will challenge Gombe United in front of their home fans at the Minna stadium this afternoon. The last season's runners-up have not put up the kind of performance that saw them book a continental ticket last season.
Their poor start to the campaign has left the Minna team swimming in relegation waters. A win in today's game will see them temporarily out from relegation zone if the trio of Gateway FC, Abuja FC and Nasarawa United loose their matches this weekend.
The Liberation Stadium in Port-Harcourt will be the venue for the showdown between fourth-placed sharks of Port-Harcourt and Lobi Stars FC of Markurdi. The boys from the ostrich Niger Delta region have 27 points, same as third-placed Warri Wolves who have a superior goals difference.
Sharks of Port-Harcourt are likely to topple Warri Wolves. Both sides have the home advantage in this game. With the support of their fans, the outcome of both games is unpredictable.
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