WEEK 22 PREVIEWS

Saturday

Tornadoes v Gombe Utd

In the first meeting between the two sides on September 26, 2009 in Gombe, Niger Tornadoes then under Benue-born coach, Godwin Uwua, won by 2 – 1 against all odds in Week Two. Gombe United would be hoping that it can evoke the spirit of April 22, 2005 when it defeated Niger Tornadoes by a lone goal in Minna. But Ben Duamlong knows that this is a game it needs to get a result to avoid dropping back into the relegation zone, and Tornadoes’ marksman, Eugene Salami, is the man to watch in this encounter. Ladan Bosso’s side should nick this game.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

April 22, 2005: Niger Tornadoes 0 – 1 Gombe United

Oct 1, 2005: Gombe United 2 – 0 Niger Tornadoes

May 5, 2006: Niger Tornadoes 2 – 0 Gombe United

July 15, 2006: Gombe United 2 – 0 Niger Tornadoes

Sept 23, 2007: Gombe United 1 – 0 Niger Tornadoes

March 12, 2008: Niger Tornadoes 2 – 0 Gombe United

Jan 3, 2008: Niger Tornadoes 2 – 0 Gombe United

June 6, 2009: Gombe United 2 – 0 Niger Tornadoes

Sept 26, 2009: Gombe United 1 – 2 Niger Tornadoes

FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES

Tornadoes: LWLWD

Gombe Utd: DWDLW

Gateway FC v Zamfara Utd

Basement side, Gateway Football Club, knows that this is a must-win game or else, the alarm bells would ring for its head coach, Loveday Omoruyi. The advantage is tilted to the side of the Rock City Boys, as Zamfara United has never won against it on the road since 2005. After that 1 – 2 loss to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), the Abeokuta-based club would have to dig deep to pick a win in this game after two consecutive losses has left it at the foot of the Premier League log. But the side needs to be watch out for Zamfara United’s Gazali Mohammed, Kabiru Ibrahim, Andrew Uraya, Ibrahim Danlami and especially Austin Kadiri, who all combined to make sure that Gateway FC lost the first meeting in Gusau by one-nil.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

May 17, 2005: Gateway FC 2 – 1 Zamfara United

Oct 22, 2005: Zamfara United 2 – 0 Gateway FC

Jan 18, 2009: Zamfara United 1 – 2 Gateway FC

May 6, 2009: Gateway FC 2 – 1 Zamfara United

Sept 27, 2009: Zamfara United 1 – 0 Gateway FC

FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES

Gateway FC: LWLLL

Zamfara Utd: WLWLW

Kano Pillars v Kwara Utd

This is the biggest game of the week between third and second placed sides in the Premier League log. Kwara United is just a point above its host, Kano Pillars, ahead of this tie and knows that it must get a result to stay in touch with leader, Enyimba. But first, Justin Tenger’s side must keep Ahmad Musa at bay just as the host would have a lot of work to do at its own end of the half by keeping the duo of Ukeyimah Akombo and Jaiyeola Yusuf quiet. On September 26, 2006 in the reverse fixture, Kano Pillars secured a point after a nil-nil outing at the Ilorin Township Stadium and Kwara United should be prepared to face a long and hot day in Kano on Saturday, as it is yet to pick points off the home side in five years.

Prediction: 2 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

May 6, 2005: Kano Pillars 2 – 1 Kwara United

Oct 14, 2005: Kwara United 1 – 0 Kano Pillars

May 26, 2006: Kwara United 2 – 1 Kano Pillars

Aug 8, 2006: Kano Pillars 2 – 0 Kwara United

Jan 9, 2008: Kwara United 1 – 0 Kano Pillars

April 26, 2008: Kano Pillars 2 – 0 Kwara United

Sept 27, 2009: Kwara United 0 – 0 Kano Pillars

FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES

Kano Pillars: DWLWD

Kwara Utd: WWWLW

Dolphin v 3SC

A clash between two newcomers in the top-flight division, and the reverse fixture ended 1 – 1 at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan. It is going to be a big trip for Mutiu Adepoju’s Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) since it is four points above the drop zone as at last weekend. Last season in the National Division I League, this game ended in a 1 – 1 draw at the Liberation Stadium Port Harcourt though 3SC claimed that it should have won it after one of its goals was cancelled. In its last three games, 3SC is yet to lose and this looks a difficult trip for the side, as Dolphin Football Club would hope to make good use of playing in front of its home crowd.

Prediction: 2 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

May 10, 2005: Shooting Stars 3 – 0 Dolphin

Oct 1, 2005: Dolphin 1 – 0 Shooting Stars

Sept 26, 2009: Shooting Stars 1 – 1 Dolphin

FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES

Dolphin: LWLWL

3SC: WLWWD

Ranch Bees v Rangers

The Flying Antelopes go into this game with a hefty punishment from the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) after altercation in last weekend’s game against Sunshine Stars at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. Reverse fixture between both sides ended 0 – 2 in favour of Rangers. Damien Udeh and Fred Okwara have been pulling the strings for Rangers all season and would hope that the side bags all points here but Bees has an impressive home record of having not lost any game in 10. The best result Rangers can get in Kaduna would be a draw.

Prediction: 0 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

May 12, 2006: Ranchers Bees 1 – 0 Enugu Rangers

July 22, 2006: Enugu Rangers 1 – 1 Ranchers Bees

Sept 27, 2009: Enugu Rangers 2 – 0 Ranchers Bees

FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES

Ranch Bees: LWLWL

Rangers: LWDWD

Sunday

Bayelsa Utd v Heartland

Last season’s champion and runner-up go head-to-head on Sunday but the glamour has been taken away from this game due to both sides’ indifferent performances this season. Heartland occupies eight spot and eight points off leader, Enyimba while the Nigerian champion is battling to survive. Both clubs are faced with financial troubles and Bayelsa United’s case is worse after it was bundled out of the CAF Champions League last weekend by lowly-rated FC Gazel of Chad. In the reverse fixture, Bayelsa United lost by 1 – 2 and the Naze Millionaires would be licking its lips and thinking that it can pick points off an off-coloured Nigerian champion side just like the Chadian club did last Sunday.

Prediction: 1 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 25, 2007: Bayelsa United 1 – 0 Heartland

March 30, 2008: Heartland 1 – 1 Bayelsa United

Nov 26, 2008: Heartland 2 – 0 Bayelsa United

April 12, 2009: Bayelsa United 2 – 0 Heartland

Sept 27, 2009: Heartland FC 2 – 1 Bayelsa United

FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES

Bayelsa Utd: LLLWD

Heartland: WLWLD

Wolves v Sharks

This is one game that remains in doubt following the indefinite suspension of Sharks Football Club by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) last week. But if the suspension on the Blue Angels is eventually lifted then the Port Harcourt side would be heading for its 11th defeat of the season. Wolves has lost just once at home this season and has moved into its state-of-the-art ground – the Warri City Stadium, and Sharks grabbed a rare win in Owerri away to Heartland under John Obuh. But with Wolves eyeing the title this season, it is going to be a hot Sunday afternoon for Obuh and his boys considering the form of Michael Okoyoh, Temile Omonigho, Ehiosun Ekigho and Richard Eromoigbe among others. This should be another three points at home for Wolves.

Prediction: 2 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Feb 26, 2005: NPA 3 – 1 Sharks FC

Aug 5, 2005: Sharks FC 2 – 1 NPA

Nov 1, 2008: Sharks FC 3 – 1 Warri Wolves

March 14, 2009: Warri Wolves 1 – 0 Sharks FC

Sept 26, 2009: Sharks FC 0 – 0 Warri Wolves

FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES

Wolves: WLWWL

Sharks: WDLWL

Enyimba v Ocean Boys

In three previous visits to Aba since 2006, Ocean Boys has not picked any point off the Peoples Elephant. In those visits to the Enyimba Sports Stadium, Ocean Boys has failed to score and it would be difficult to point to where its goals would be coming from in this game. After beating Lobi Stars in Makurdi last week, Okey Emordi would hope that his men do not allow the chance of remaining at the summit of the Premier League to slip through their hands. In the first meeting, Enyimba got a point away from Ocean Boys in a 1 – 1 and should go ahead and grab all points in this game.

Prediction: 3 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

May 27, 2006: Enyimba 2 – 0 Ocean Boys

Aug 6, 2006: Ocean Boys 2 – 1 Enyimba

Oct 17, 2007: Enyimba 1 – 0 Ocean Boys

Feb 6, 2008: Ocean Boys 2 – 1 Enyimba

Sept 28, 2008: Enyimba 1 – 0 Ocean Boys

Feb 7, 2009: Ocean Boys 1 – 0 Enyimba

Sept 26, 2009: Ocean Boys 1 – 1 Enyimba

FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES

Enyimba: LWLDW

Ocean Boys: DLWLW

Sunshine Stars v Kaduna Utd

The team of Solomon Ogbeide has been one of the sides with physical attributes and has often spoiled the fun for some of the big sides like it did against Enugu Rangers last weekend in Enugu. The reverse game between the two sides ended 1 – 1 and Sunshine Stars looks good enough to win this game considering its fine form at home. Last season, the Stars won this fixture by 3 – 2.

Prediction: 2 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Dec 14, 2008: Sunshine Stars 3 – 2 Kaduna United

April 26, 2009: Kaduna United 1 – 0 Sunshine Stars

Sept 28, 2009: Kaduna United 1 – 1 Sunshine Stars

FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES

Sunshine Stars: WLWDD

Kaduna Utd: DLWDW

Wikki v Lobi Stars

Last season troubled Lobi Stars got a point in this fixture in a game that ended goalless while the reverse fixture ended one-nil in favour of Lobi Stars. But the visiting side has been struggling lately and coupled with the suspension of Blessing Okardi, Son Hingir and two other players for assaulting a match official last weekend, the struggle continues for Lobi Stars. Wikki though has lost twice at home this season, its coach, Ifeanyi Onyedika, would rally his troop to grab this win to start the climb out of the drop zone. With the suspension of four players, Wikki would blame itself if it fails to deal with a troubled side in Lobi Stars.

Prediction: 2 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

May 28, 2005: Lobi Stars 1 – 0 Wikki Tourist

Nov 5, 2005: Wikki Tourist 1 – 0 Lobi Stars

Jan 6, 2008: Lobi Stars 5 – 0 Wikki Tourist

May 25, 2008: Wikki Tourist 1 – 0 Lobi Stars

Dec 17, 2008: Wikki Tourist 0 – 0 Lobi Stars

May 3, 2009: Lobi Stars 1 – 0 Wikki Tourist

Sept 27, 2009: Lobi Stars 1 – 0 Wikki Tourist

FORM GUIDE IN LAST FIVE GAMES

Wikki: WLLDL

Lobi Stars: LLWLL