Nigerian Football
Remo Stars take their unbeaten mentality to Uyo
Rave of the moment, Remo Stars are hoping to begin 2022 the way they ended 2021 by keeping a clean sheet and remaining atop of the Nigeria Professional Football League.
At the beginning of the season last month, they had a massive away win, defeating MFM of Lagos. They followed up with two home games, winning one and drawing the other to be on top of the log.
The away game with Dakkada at the sumptuous Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo will be their second away game of the season and they are hopeful of also picking maximum points as they did in Lagos.
Formerly known as Akwa Starlets, Dakkada FC lost their first game 3-0 to Kwara United in Ilorin, won their second game against MFM FC by two goals and lost their third game 1-0 against Heartland FC.
The Gbenga Ogunbote led Remo Stars will continue to have faith in Andy Okpe despite firing blank in their last game and have scored three good goals in the NPFL.
Mercurial Midfielders Dayo Ojo, Samuel Anakwe, Akanni Qudus and captain Nduka Junior all available for this encounter.
The host Dakkada will do everything to ensure they end Remo Stars’ clean sheets rub and improve their scoring prowess having conceded four (4) goals and have scored just two (2) this season.
Both sides have never met in the NPFL but the last time they met was in a lower league, Nigeria National League (NNL) and that was in 2016 where former players, Victor Mbaoma and Oche Salifu gave the Sky Blue Stars a 2-0 victory at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode and the return fixture saw Dakkada defeat Remo Stars by 1-0 in Uyo.
Three (3) of the players (Awoyemi Abdulrasheed, Shuji Oshobe and Ewelike Edozie) that featured for the Sky Blue Stars against Dakkada in 2016 are still with the squad and might make the squad to face them again on Sunday evening.
A win for the Remo Stars will help keep the momentum of wanting to remain in the NPFL and also the second away victory for them. A draw for them will also help maintain their unbeaten record while a loss for them will make it their first defeat this season and a stop to their clean sheet.
On the other hand, a win for Dakkada will lift them from 14th position on the log.
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.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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