Wednesday, February 10, 2010

WEEK 19 PREVIEWS

Saturday 13
3SC v Gateway FC
This is one of the south-west derbies in the top-flight in this season’s campaign. The last time both sides met in the Premier League was on November 6, 2005 in this same corresponding fixture in Ibadan, which Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) won by 2 – 1. In its last five games, both sides have been misfiring though the Stars should nick this one considering its home form of having lost to any visiting side. But Gateway’s form in its last five games is better compared to that of Shooting Stars.
Prediction: 2 – 1
HEAD-TO-HEAD SINCE 2005
Saturday 28 May, 2005: Gateway FC 0 – 1 Shooting Stars
Sunday 6 Nov, 2005: Shooting Stars 2 – 1 Gateway FC
FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES
3SC: LDLWL
Gateway FC: WLWLW

Sharks v Tornadoes
In its last four visits to Port Harcourt, Niger Tornadoes has picked just one point off the Blue Angels. And for Sharks Football Club head coach, John Obuh, this is his fourth game in charge with a scorecard of one win, one draw and a loss. But in eight head-to-head meetings, Tornadoes has the advantage of four wins over Sharks’ three. Also on current form, Tornadoes is head and shoulders above Sharks. However, the contingent of the Blue Angels knows that it has to win this game to climb out of the relegation zone by the end of this weekend.
Prediction: 2 – 0
HEAD-TO-HEAD SINCE 2005
Saturday 18 June, 2005: Sharks FC 1 – 0 Niger Tornadoes
Sunday 20 Nov, 2005: Niger Tornadoes 3 – 0 Sharks FC
Friday            19 May, 2006: Sharks FC 0 – 0 Niger Tornadoes
Saturday 29 July, 2006: Niger Tornadoes 2 – 1 Sharks FC
Wednesday 24 Oct, 2007: Sharks FC 4 – 1 Niger Tornadoes
Saturday 23 Feb, 2008: Niger Tornadoes 3 – 0 Sharks FC
Saturday 15 Nov, 2008: Sharks FC 1 – 0 Niger Tornadoes
Saturday 28 March, 2009: Niger Tornadoes 2 – 1 Sharks FC
FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES
Sharks: WLWDL
Tornadoes: WDWLW

Gombe Utd v Rangers
This is a clash between fifth and 10th placed clubs on the Premier League log. The Flying Antelopes has won just once on the road this season, but would have to put up a serious challenge against the Desert Scorpions in Gombe if it wants to leave that ground with a result to its credit. The best result Rangers got in its last three trips to Gombe was a goalless draw in 2005, and Alphonsus Dike would hope that his side can take a result back with it to Enugu.
Prediction: 1 – 0
HEAD-TO-HEAD SINCE 2005
Sunday, 20 Feb, 2005: Enugu Rangers 0 – 0 Gombe United
Saturday 30 July, 2005: Gombe United 0 – 0 Enugu Rangers
Sunday 21 Oct, 2007: Enugu Rangers 1 – 0 Gombe United
Thursday 21 Feb, 2008: Gombe United 1 – 0 Enugu Rangers
Sunday 19 Oct, 2008: Enugu Rangers 2 – 1 Gombe United
Sunday 1 March, 2009: Gombe United 1 – 0 Enugu Rangers
FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES
Gombe Utd: WLWDW
Rangers: WWDLW

Sunday 14
Ocean Boys v Kano Pillars
Two former champions of the Premier League square up against each other in this Week 19 game at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa. Kano Pillars’ manager, Salisu Yusuf, has been impressed with the performance of his side in its last five games, as it has garnered 13 points out of 15 without losing a game – the best form guide in the Premier League’s last five matches. But the Kano side would have in-form striker, Ahmad Musa, to thank and hope that his blistering scoring run continues, as the Pyramid Boys chase leader, Enyimba, for the top spot in the league. But it faces a different opposition in Emmanuel Amuneke’s men, who are yet to lose at home this season. This game has a draw written all over it.
Prediction: 0 – 0
HEAD-TO-HEAD SINCE 2007
Wednesday 24 Oct, 2007: Ocean Boys 1 – 0 Kano Pillars
Saturday 23 Feb, 2008: Kano Pillars 3 – 0 Ocean Boys
Sunday 16 Nov, 2008: Ocean Boys 1 – 1 Kano Pillars
Saturday 28 March, 2009: Kano Pillars 0 – 0 Ocean Boys
FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES
Ocean Boys: LDLDL
Kano Pillars: WWWDW

Sunshine Stars v Wikki
Ifeanyi Onyedika and Wikki Tourist should be prepared for a rough ride in Akure on Sunday when they confront Sunshine Stars. The Akure side is regarded as the Premier League’s most physical side and the likes of Dolphin Football Club, Heartland Football Club and even Enyimba have testified to that. But the Stars is not all about brawns and no brains, as the likes of Ibrahim Babale, Adeyinka Adedeji, Sunday Abe and Ganiyu Salami among others can combine both to get results. Last season, Tourist left Akure with a point but that may not happen this time, as Solomon Ogbeide would ensure that his side pick all points at stake.
Prediction: 2 – 0
HEAD-TO-HEAD SINCE 2007
Saturday 8 Dec, 2007: Sunshine Stars 2 – 1 Wikki Tourist
Saturday 12 April, 2008: Wikki Tourist 2 – 0 Sunshine Stars
Sunday 14 Sept, 2008: Sunshine Stars 0 – 0 Wikki Tourist
Saturday 7 Feb, 2009: Wikki Tourist 1 – 1 Sunshine Stars
FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES
Sunshine Stars: LWLWL
Wikki: LLLWL

Kaduna Utd v Enyimba
For the first time since he left the Peoples Elephant in 2008, Maurice Cooreman would lead Kaduna United against his former team. Five-time champion, Enyimba, has not won in Kaduna in four years with last season’s corresponding fixture ending in a goalless draw on November 23, 2008. However, a draw for Enyimba in this game could ensure that it ends up finishing the mid-season as leader depending on the outcome of Kano Pillars and Kwara United’s games at Ocean Boys and Warri Wolves.
Prediction: 1 – 1
HEAD-TO-HEAD SINCE 2006
Saturday 20 May, 2006: Kaduna United 2 – 1 Enyimba
Tuesday 1 Aug, 2006: Enyimba 4 – 1 Kaduna United
Sunday 23 Nov, 2008: Kaduna United 0 – 0 Enyimba
Sunday 5 April, 2009: Enyimba 1 – 0 Kaduna United
FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES
Kaduna Utd: LWLDL
Enyimba: LWDLW

Lobi Stars v Dolphin
The financial crisis at Lobi Stars has left it just a point above the drop zone to the disappointment of the Benue State government, which experimented with handing over the club to private ownership. The good thing for Lobi Stars is that it is yet to lose at home while Dolphin Football Club has struggled to pick just three points from nine away games. Dolphin manager, Stanley Eguma, recognizes that it is a cause for concern if his side must make an impact in the Premier League. But the trip to Makurdi can best yield a point for Eguma’s men.
Prediction: 0 – 0
HEAD-TO-HEAD SINCE 2005
Wednesday 9 March, 2005: Lobi Stars 2 – 1 Dolphin
Saturday 13 Aug, 2005: Dolphin 1 – 0 Lobi Stars
FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES
Lobi Stars: LDWLL
Dolphin: LLWLW

Heartland v Ranch Bees
The Naze Millionaires is still struggling to come to terms with the departure of key players in the middle of its campaign for a first league title in 17 years. The side still has a number of players nursing injuries and Ranch Bees would hope that it can produce one of the biggest upsets of the season by winning in Owerri like Sharks FC – the only side to have inflicted a defeat on Heartland Football Club at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri. Both sides are joint on 25 points and Kelechi Emeteole’s side would be keen to pick the maximum points to climb further up the Premier League log, which looks feasible considering Bees’ poor form on the road this season.
Prediction: 3 – 1
FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES
Heartland: WLLWL
Ranch Bees: WDWLW

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