Kaduna United centre-back, Emmanuel Ambrose has said his side will be the team to beat in the coming 2012/2013 NPL season.United are continuing with their pre-season exercise in Kaduna hoping to get fresh hands to strengthen the side for league hostilities.

Ambrose said his side will not struggle as they did in the past season but will challenge for the league title."We're planning big for the league; at least, continental ticket won't elude us at the end of the season.

"It's goodbye to struggling as we did last season. This time we're going for the league shield."We still have the bulk of our players intact and the coaching crew coupled with few new quality ones the coaches want to beef up the squad with.

"Definitely, we'll be the team to beat this season. We've learnt our mistakes of last season and have vowed to profit from it, so expect an entirely different side when the league commences.

"Though we're worried with the uncertainty trailing the league kick-off we won't lower our preparations but intensify it."Definitely the league will start someday we won't want to be cut off guard. We want to be champions and must be ready at all times," said captain of his side to supersport.com.

The Kaduna-based side survived relegation on the last day of the out gone season on 49 points from 36 matches.