Kwara, Tornadoes ignites league opener
The Globacom Premier League for the 2007 season kicks off today and in this special package, Nigeriansportsonline.com presents a preview of all the 10 matches billed for the weekend.
GROUP A
KWARA UTD vs TORNADOES
After several postponements occasioned by litigations and sponsorship feuds, the Nigerian top flight, Globacom Premier League gets underway on Saturday, January 6, 2007, with Kwara United hosting Niger Tornadoes at Ilorin Township stadium.
The fixture is the only clash billed for the opening day with the rest games pushed forward to Sunday. Reasons for this according to the organisers, Nigeria Football League, is to make for an elaborate presentation ceremony of N10m sponsorship fund to each Premier League club and Ilorin has been slated for this.
With all the clubs’ officials present to collect their money at a ceremony to be beamed live on Supersports Cable Television, Kwara United, now under a foreign manager, Palmgren, will begin a new race to make the Super Four grade against Niger Tornadoes.
Tornadoes are also under a new handler John Obuh, who once assisted Bitrus Bewarang at both Kano Pillars and Wikki Tourists.
He was assistant coach of Heartland last season under Ufere Nwankwo. He replaced Bernard Ogbu who drifted to Enyimba after several spells at the club.
Obuh will have a relatively cool game in Ilorin as a combination of factors will put the hosts under severe pressure.
First, the game is to come live on television, and secondly all NFL, NFA and clubs, top brass will be on hand to watch the game.
RANGERS VS ADAMAWA UTD
Enugu Rangers are back to their Nnamdi Azikiwa Stadium, Enugu traditional ground.
All through last season, the Coal City Flying Antelopes had all their league ties on the road – U.J Esuene Stadium Calabar, Rojenny Stadium, Oba and Gabros Stadium, Nnewi.
Reason was renovation work at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
Back to their ancestral home, Ranges fans will see first hand how far the team have gone in their transformation and rebuilding process.
The exit of former Team Manager Davidson Owumi and Technical Adviser Lawrence Akpokona, ushered in Walter Udoji and Okey Emordi as new Team Manager and Technical Adviser respectively.
Faced with massive exodus of star players, Rangers indeed began completely afresh.
Coach Okey Emordi, who led Enyimba to their 2004 CAF Champions League title win, is now in saddle alongside his then assistant, Alphonsus Dike.
He admits the fact that he has a tough job at hand.
“There is no doubt that the club lost many of its top quality players and I must be deceiving myself if I tell you that this is not giving me concern and tough challenge,” Emordi told Nigeriansportsonline.com.
“Rangers as a club do not stop players from seeking career fortunes elsewhere. But I was only worried that those boys earlier gave me the hope and impression that they will stay only for them to change their minds the last but critical period.”
As for Adamawa United, it is a baptism of fire for a team that have spent several seasons in the lower league.
But with the arrival of a Belgian tactician, Sampson Chukwu, media officer of the side, believes that they are young only in name.
“Adamawa United may be a young side to the top flight. But football speaks the same language all over and Ocean Boys proved this last season,” Chukwu hinted.
WIKKI TOURISTS VS OCEAN BOYS
Vengeance is the battle cry for the hosts, Wikki Tourists as they entertain defending champions, Ocean Boys in this round one fixture.
Ocean Boys won 2-0 in their clash during the 2006 Super Four tie which helped the Brass Local Government team win the top prize to book a place in the 2007 CAF Champions League, leaving Wikki to end a brilliant run in the regular season empty handed.
And as this top of the bill cracker beckons, Baba Jeddah Auwalu, Team Manager of the side boasts:
“We have learnt from out past and this is not boasting. That loss (to Ocean Boys) caused our predicament last season and we are out to pay them back this time around.”
PRIME VS KANO PILLARS
Prime of Oshogbo are cutting their Premier League soccer teeth in this home fixture versus Kano Pillars.
Ironically, the crucial tie is billed for Ado-Ekiti stadium as the league body, NFL, could not approve the Osogbo Township Stadium for Premier League ties.
It may be a tough debut for the home side against a tactically balanced side like Kano Pillars under coach Justin Tenger.
Tenger’s men are further charged with the payment of their sign on fees and the arrival of a new management led by Babangida Tukur, a former NFA Head of National Competitions.
KADUNA UTD VS HEARTLAND FC
Coach Ben Duamlong will be the centre of attraction when Kaduna United file out for this encounter.
Duamlong propelled Kaduna to their first ever Coca-Cola FA Cup bronze finish in the 2006 season only to drift to Heartland.
Filling out a new set of soldiers against his former employers in his former territory indeed sparks off tension, and of course, emotion.
“That is what the game is all about. Today, you are here, tomorrow you may find yourself there. So the beat goes on,” Duamlong told Nigeriansportsonline.com at their Felixo Hotel camp, Oba.
“No doubt it will be a tough match. Kaduna is a good city to enjoy football. The people are lovable and hold the game with passion,” Duamlong posited.
GROUP B
GOMBE UNITED VS LOBI STARS
Abubakar Umar Stadim, Gombe is action attraction as Nasir Jamil leads his men into this opening cracker versus Lobi Stars.
Coach Nasir has been the hob on which Gombe United revolve even at very crucial moments. With Lobi Stars as first visiting enemy this season, Nasir knows too well that a potential war is at hand.
“We are very much aware that our group is a tough one. We are also aware that Lobi Stars are difficult side. But that won’t discourage us.
“We are prepared well enough for the season and by the grace of God we will start the season on a happy note,” Jamil Nasir who has been called upon several occasions to rescue the side from tough situations stressed.
INSURANCE VS AKWA
Akwa United are under severe pressure as they play guests to Insurance in this opening game.
Reason is that there are a lot of expectations on them to prove their 13-0 whitewash of Calabar Rovers in what has become known today as G-13 last season.
Asides that, the team were paid fifty per cent of their 2007 sign on fees last November and with the recruitment of quality players like Chidozie Johnson, Ekene Ezenwa from Enyimba, Akwa United are indeed the cynosure of all eyes.
Coach Charles Bassey (MON) has a huge task at hand.
EL-KANEMI VS ZAMFARA
This is indeed an all Northern affair. El-Kanemi Warriors will welcome back Zamfara United to the top flight in this fixture billed for Maiduguri.
And coach Kafaru Alabi of El-Kanemi is set to be the deciding factor in this one as he brings his wealth of experience to bear in the struggle to earn a Super Four ticket for the Warriors.
NASARAWA VS DOLPHINS
Lafia Township stadium is venue for the star match of the opening games in this Group B.
Nasarawa are host to Dolphins, both of which are representing the country in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup respectively.
But while Dolphins are passing through acute financial hardship, Nasarawa appear better financially footed as could be reflected in their recruitments during the off season.
With Goalkeeper Segun Oluwaniyi, defender Andrew Nwodu striker Foster Amadi and midfielder Atobasi Emmanuel, Nasawara on paper appear loaded and only a team like Dolphins can offer a good test to their strength.
BAYELSA VS ENYIMBA
Bayelsa United looked unstoppable in the early rounds of the league last season, but amazingly they fumbled when it mattered most.
This time out, with changes in coaching personnel as well as effective recruitment, Enyimba are the side to prove how good the team is at the moment.
On their part, the two time African Champions and four time league champions have had strenuous preparations at Beverly Hills Hotel, Nnewi, with the desire to fully erase the sad memories of a disastrous 2006 campaign.
Enyimba went for quality players and grabbed coach Maurice Cooreman who did the magic for Ocean Boys last season.
How will this tie go? The ninety minutes will tell.