Nigerian Football
RETURNING OGENE REFLECTS ON PLATEAU UNITED’S RELEGATION STRUGGLES
BY FISAYO DAIRO
Winners of 2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Plateau
United are one of the surprise names in the relegation zone of the 2018/19
league groups with just two rounds of matches remaining.
Plateau United, coached by Abdu Maikaba won just
one of their first seven league matches this season and have failed to
sufficiently recover from that early season lethargy, compared to what their
group leaders Akwa United (who also failed to win any of their first four
games) have done.
While Maikaba’s former side Akwa United have
already secured a place in the season-ending Super Six playoff, his current
side Plateau United, still occupy an inglorious position in the red zone with
dangers of the drop hovering over the hitherto beautiful skies of Jos.
Plateau welcomed back their first choice centre
back Elijah Ogene to the starting lineup in their Match Day 20 clash at fellow
relegation battlers Go Round on Thursday and he contributed immensely to their
1-1 draw.
“It feels very good to be back, I was out
of action after our game in Maiduguri (four weeks ago) when I fell sick. I
thank God I’m back and better now and thankful for the point we got in Omoku as
well,” said Ogene to www.npfl.ng
The Genesis
Ogene traced the genesis of his team’s struggles
this season to the initial absence of their Coach and the crowd disturbances
that led to their playing home games away. With their head coach Maikaba away
with the Nigeria Under 20s preparing for the Under 20 Africa Cup of Nations in
Niger Republic, the team endured a torrid start to the campaign.
A home draw to FC Ifeanyiubah on Match Day One
was trailed by crowd disturbance, which meant that the team was banished to
Ilorin and Lafia for their next two home games. The team struggled.
“It wasn’t easy at the beginning. We
started very badly and the banishment did not help us too as it meant we were
always on the road every two days.
“Thank God we started getting it right
especially in this second stanza and by the grace of God, we will escape the
relegation. That’s what we’re really fighting for now,” said Ogene.
Hope of glory in the face of demotion
In spite of their troubles, Ogene still believes
his side can take the Cup route to land a continental spot at the end of the
football season in Nigeria. With Nigeria’s four slots in CAF competitions
restored, three teams will qualify to represent the country from the league
while a fourth will emerge from the Cup winners.
The Port Harcourt-born defender who featured in
each of Plateau United’s games in the CAF Champions League and Confederation
Cup in 2018 says once they are successful with their bid to avoid relegation,
they will turn focus on the AITEO Cup.
“One thing about the season is this
unpredictable nature so we just want to fight it out and make sure we escape
relegation by May 26. After then, we have hopes that we will do well in the
AITEO Cup and we will do better in the Cup to get a Confederation Cup
ticket.”
The Tin City side, have an easy fixture on paper
when they welcome already relegated Yobe Desert Stars to Jos for Match Day 21
on Monday. Ogene however insists they have to be careful against the North
Easterners.
“That they have relegated doesn’t mean they
cannot cause problems so we will be ready to do our jobs professionally and
make sure we get the three points at stake,” he concluded.
Remo Stars continued their good form in the Nigeria domestic league as they snatched another 2-0 away win against one of the traditional strong sides, Kano Pillars on Sunday.
They had earlier had another 2-0 away win when they defeated Abia Warriors in Umuahia two weeks ago. With Sunday’s win, they remain on top of the log with their nine points and five goals.
They are yet to concede any goal this season. On Sunday, Sodiq Ismail put Remo Stars in front after 26 minutes. Togolese import, Franck Mawuena doubled the lead in the 60th minute.
In another encounter, Niger Tornadoes pulled a major upset, winning 2-1 away from home as they beat former Nigerian champions, Plateau United. Ifeanyi Okechukwu put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute. They doubled theit lead in the fourth minute of added time of the second half through Kufre Ebong.
A minute later, Pam Samuel scored a consolatory goal for Plateau United. Hearrtland of Owerri continued their winless run as they played a goalless draw at home with visiting Katsina United.
Sunshine Stars also played 0-0 with Abia Warriors.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
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