NPFL Preview: Bendel Insurance, 3SC clash as Enyimba, Kano Pillars target first wins

After mixed outings in the opening matchweek of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), not much separates all of the 20 clubs so far in the standings. They will go again this Saturday, Sunday and Monday in mouthwatering fixtures that pit the old guards against the newbies.

Last weekend, there was a lean spell of goals in the 10 matches that opened the campaign.

Only nine goals were scored, less than a goal per game. It turned to be a good day for the defenders and goalkeepers who shut out the strikers.

The fixtures for Matchday 2 look finely balanced and a number of the matches have the trappings to produce many goals, considering previous head-to-head meetings.

Old foes start matchweek as bottom-two
When Alfa Sadiq signals for the start of this matchweek’s first fixture in Benin City, two traditional rivals, Bendel Insurance and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), will be battling as 20th and 19th placed teams.

Both sides began the season on losing note – 3SC fell 0-1 at home to Bayelsa United while Bendel Insurance lost 0-2 at El-Kanemi Warriors.

Last season in this corresponding fixture, Insurance edged past 3SC 1-0 through Michael Enaruna’s late goal. Enaruna, like a number of Insurance players from last season, has moved on to newcomers, Barau FC, but this does not take away the advantage that Insurance have posted over their rivals especially when they play hosts in this fixture.

Head coach of 3SC, Nurudeen Aweroro, will have to work on the psyche of his players to banish the club’s poor recent trips to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. In their last five trips to Benin City, 3SC have avoided defeat just once (D1 L4).

The other times 3SC avoided defeat in Benin City was in February 1998 and July 1999 when they played out 2-2 and 1-1 draws respectively.

Bendel Insurance head coach, Greg Ikhenoba, and Aweroro, will hope their teams can put points on the board and score goals as well after watching their sides fire blanks on the opening day.

Champions in tricky trip to Aba without Mbaoma
The champions, Remo Stars, will also be looking to claim their first win of the season after the 1-1 draw at home to Rivers United in the first game of the season.

The titleholders will have to face newcomers, Kun Khalifat FC, without striker Victor Mbaoma, at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, which they have adopted as home ground owing to renovation at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
The striker returned to Remo Stars in the off-season transfer window and immediately got off the mark in the opening game before leaving the pitch early with a rib injury which his head coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, told npfl.ng has ruled him out of the trip for Monday’s match.

Ogunmodede’s explanation borders on taking precautionary measures on the striker since they have subsequent league games and a CAF Champions League match coming up in September.

“Victor will not be available for the match (against Kun Khalifat FC),” Ogunmodede, also known as Ijaball, revealed to npfl.ng.

“The extent of the (rib) injury has not be fully ascertained and we are still monitoring his situation which rules him out of the game entirely.”

Mbaoma’s absence could pave way for Remo Stars’ Malian striker, Adama Goita, to earn his first start of the season.

It is the first time both teams will meet in the topflight and the odds are in favour of the champions though Obinna Uzoho and his men will hope they can hold off another big team like they did in the opening matchday at Rangers where they got a point off a 0-0 draw.

Source: Premium Times