Aigbogun psyches up Warri Wolves players ahead Sunshine Stars meet

 

Warri Wolves players ended their training boycott Thursday to resume preparations for their potentially explosive Match Day 32 fixture against Sunshine Stars and the club's Technical Adviser, Paul Aigbogun, spoke to assure fans that the squad are mentally and physically prepared to win all three points to stay ahead of their opponents on the log. Moses Etu, the club Media Officer said the players resumed training Friday morning.

Aigbogun's assurances must be comforting to their fans who had watched the players go on a protest match to demand payment of alleged backlog of entitlements but the coach who spoke after their morning training on Friday said that they have nothing to fear.

Soft-spoken Aigbogun declared that what happened during the week when the players made an attempt to go on strike will not affect their performance because the players know what is at stake at this time. Sunshine Stars are placed second on the log ahead of their third-placed hosts and a win for the Warri side will see them leap over their visitors. Sunshine Stars which won their last fixture on the road against Kwara United, however, will need to win or draw to consolidate their pursuit of top placed Enyimba and a possible continental ticket.

"We have just finished our training and I know that the players will live up to expectations. We have talked to them and they know what is at stake at this time. We cannot allow that to affect us especially with what Sunshine Stars did to us in the first leg in Akure."

Aigbogun also appealed to the fans to come out in large numbers to cheer the team to victory, citing the situation in Kano where the stadium was filled to capacity with thousands of fans cheering their team.

"We want the fans to come out and support the boys. We need them at this time when the situation has become critical as we march on to catch up with Enyimba. We know we can do it and we are going to give our best. In Kano, what I saw really impressed me and I want Warri people and its environs to come out on Saturday to cheer the team to victory," pleaded Aigbogun.

NPFL sparks new sense of pride for Nigeria at 55

Nigeria has now clocked 55 years as an independent state, and like a moher with many growing children, the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), also known as the Glo Premier League, is one of such. Like a growing child, the NPFL is still with its teething problems and it is still a long walk to the Dreams of the founding fathers.

But the Nigerian elite division is now one of the rallying points for the country's football and it has become the touch point for the promotion of unity in diversity. One of such campaigns the League Management Company (LMC) embarked upon from last season was the "One Nation. One Game. One Goal" campaign.

'Caterpillar' hopes for El-Kanemi win in crucial tie against Sharks

El-Kanemi Warriors FC head coach, Kelechi Emeteole has expressed hope of continuing with the team's unbeaten momentum by picking maximum points when they host Sharks FC on Sunday in a Glo Premier League match day 32 fixture in Katsina.

The Warriors have enjoyed a two-match unbeaten run including battling to a 1-1 draw last weekend against relegation-haunted FC Taraba in Jalingo.

Emeteole popularly called 'Caterpillar,' told www.npfl.ng that the Borno state team must come up with their big game attitude if they are to win at home against a Sharks side battling relegation. He added that teams in the lower rung of the league are dangerous and very difficult to play as they come fighting for whatever they can get without fear or favour.

Heartland v Enyimba: What to expect

The competition in the Nigeria Premier League does not come any fiercer than this: Heartland vs Enyimba. It promises to be a cracker. Two teams, reputed for their do-or-die attitude to games of this magnitude, go head to head in what has been tagged "Oriental Derby" by ardent followers of the domestic game.

For the People's Elephant, nothing other than an outright victory - or worse, a draw - will assuage a club earnestly in search of a seventh domestic title. This, they have shown by the way they have overrun most of the opposition they have crossed paths with.

Victory against Heartland however, as they are very much aware, may not lend itself too easily. Kadiri Ikhana, a veteran and one whose shrewdness in this game easily places him higher than his opposite number, must have adequately equipped his players psychologically and mentally for this crunch tie.

Factors that will influence the outcome

For Heartland, their inconsistency this season is a cause for concern. Dropping valuable points at home, notably a 0-3 loss to Sunshine stars and a 1-3 defeat to Shooting Stars; is a testimony of their fallibility. They will be desperate to prove a point in this one against their rivals, that they are still a force to reckon with.

A look at the last matches of both teams is telling. For Enyimba, a goal in each half, off the foot of Chinedu Udoji, was enough to hand them a deserved win. For Heartland, it was a tale of woes, going down 3-1 to a struggling Bayelsa United side.

The beauty of this duel

Undoubtedly, this game promises to showcase some of the league's finest.

The presence of Chinedu Udoji in Enyimba’s backline will be a huge plus for them. The inspiring and ever dependable skipper has used his strength and physicality to good effect, neutralizing the opponent's attacking forays.

Players like Ezekiel Bassey, Ifeanyi George, Emma Anyanwu, Markson Ojobo and Andrew Abalogu will no doubt be a huge factor for Enyimba.

Heartland on their part are not left out. They parade stars like former league top scorer in Bright Ejike, a clinical finisher in front of goal and Ikechukwu zenwa between the sticks. Haven lost the first leg and still struggling in the league, they will be eager to use a victory against Enyimba to improve their standing on the log.

This will make for a very exciting yet somewhat unpredictable derby.

Ranking(s): NPFL 2014/2015

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Rank				Team	P	W	D	L	Pts	GF	GA	+/-
1		(1)		Enyimba International FC	31	16	10	5	58	43	24	19
2		(4)		Sunshine Stars	31	16	5	10	53	48	28	20
3		(2)		Warri Wolves FC	31	15	7	9	52	46	26	20
4		(3)		Wikki Tourists	31	14	9	8	51	36	29	7
5		(5)		Giwa FC	31	13	11	7	50	35	33	2
6		(6)		Nasarawa United FC	31	13	7	11	46	36	34	2
7		(7)		Abia Warriors	31	14	4	13	46	32	35	-3
8		(8)		Kano Pillars	31	13	6	12	45	39	32	7
9		(10)		Shooting Stars	31	13	6	12	45	32	31	1
10		(9)		Heartland FC	31	13	5	13	44	37	32	5
11		(11)		FC IfeanyiUbah	31	12	7	12	43	32	31	1
12		(12)		Rangers International FC	31	12	7	12	43	35	35	0
13		(13)		El-Kanemi Warriors FC	31	11	7	13	40	31	48	-17
14		(14)		Lobi Stars FC	31	8	13	10	37	28	33	-5
15		(16)		Akwa United FC	31	10	7	14	37	26	34	-8
16		(17)		Sharks FC	31	8	12	11	36	23	31	-8
17		(15)		Dolphins FC	31	8	10	13	34	30	33	-3
18		(18)		Kwara United	31	9	5	17	32	25	40	-15
19		(19)		Taraba FC	31	7	9	15	30	26	38	-12
20		(20)		Bayelsa United	31	6	11	14	29	23	36	-13

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If you click on a teamname you will see a few very userfull icons about: teamplan, matrix, etc..., if you click on an icon you will go to that view

Sunday, 04.10.2015 - 32. Matchday
	Dolphins FC		_ - _		FC IfeanyiUbah
	El-Kanemi Warriors FC		_ - _		Sharks FC
	Wikki Tourists		_ - _		Taraba FC
	Heartland FC		_ - _		Enyimba International FC
	Shooting Stars		_ - _		Bayelsa United
	Nasarawa United FC		_ - _		Lobi Stars FC
	Kwara United		_ - _		Akwa United FC
	Abia Warriors		_ - _		Rangers International FC
	Warri Wolves FC		_ - _		Sunshine Stars
	Giwa FC		_ - _		Kano Pillars

Friday, 25.09.2015 - 31. Matchday
	Akwa United FC		2 - 0		Nasarawa United FC
Sunday, 27.09.2015 - 31. Matchday
	FC IfeanyiUbah		1 - 1		Giwa FC
	Sharks FC		1 - 0		Dolphins FC
	Taraba FC		1 - 1		El-Kanemi Warriors FC
	Enyimba International FC		2 - 0		Wikki Tourists
	Lobi Stars FC		0 - 0		Shooting Stars
	Rangers International FC		2 - 1		Kwara United
	Sunshine Stars		1 - 0		Abia Warriors
	Kano Pillars		1 - 1		Warri Wolves FC
Monday, 28.09.2015 - 31. Matchday
	Bayelsa United		3 - 1		Heartland FC