WEEK 27 PREVIEWS

Saturday

Tornadoes v Gateway FC

New coach of Gateway Football Club, Toyin Ayinla, would come under his first real test away from home after last week’s four-nil bashing of Ranch Bees. The Rock City Boys’ last two visits to Minna in 2005 and 2009 ended in two-nil defeats. Tornadoes has enjoyed a good run at home though that was dented by crowd trouble two weeks ago when it played goalless with champion, Bayelsa United. Earlier in the season, Gateway FC won the first clash by a lone goal, but the Abeokuta side is still searching for its first away win this season and it does not look like it would happen in Minna.

Prediction: 2 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 21, 2009: Gateway FC  1 – 0 Tornadoes

Feb 14, 2009: Tornadoes 2 – 0 Gateway FC

Sept 24, 2008: Gateway FC 3 – 2 Tornadoes

Oct 8, 2005: Tornadoes 2 – 0 Gateway FC

April 29, 2005: Gateway FC 1 – 1 Tornadoes

Ranch Bees v Kano Pillars

In the past four years, both northern clubs have met just three times in the Premier League including this season’s reverse fixture in November 2009 when Pillars won by 2 – 1. Despite its title run-in, Kano Pillars has won once on the road and scored just three times. Salisu Yusuf knows that if his side is to topple Enyimba, which would not play until next Thursday, then it must start by defeating neighbour, Ranch Bees, at the Kaduna Township Stadium on Saturday. It is a difficult call for Pillars, as it may leave Kaduna with a point though its last visit to the city ended in a three-nil triumph.

Prediction: 0 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 21, 2009: Kano Pillars 2 – 1 Ranch Bees

Oct 12, 2006:  Ranch Bees 0 – 3 Kano Pillars

June 2, 2006: Kano Pillars 1 – 0 Ranch Bees

Gombe Utd v Dolphin

This is a clash between 11th and 12th placed sides in the league log. Dolphin is already concerned about the invincibility that Gombe United enjoys playing at home. It would be a Herculean task for Dolphin in Gombe having drawn four away games from 13. Host, Gombe United, has lost once in front of its home fans to Niger Tornadoes. Dolphin’s Danjuma Abdullahi would be hoping to get a chance to face his old club while Emma Nwachi, Mutiu Adegoke and John Huan have all returned from the Super Eagles Team B camp. Jonah Abutu and Sunday Mbah are pressing for comebacks after being sidelined by injuries. Gombe United still remains in tact though in-fighting over outstanding contract fees appears to be threatening its season. The chances of Stanley Eguma’s men picking something from this tie look remote.

Prediction: 1 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 21, 2009:            Dolphin 1 – 0 Gombe Utd

March 21, 2007: Gombe Utd 2 – 0 Dolphin

Jan 21, 2007: Dolphin 0 – 0 Gombe Utd

Oct 25, 2005: Gombe Utd 1 – 0 Dolphin

April 2, 2005: Dolphin 1 – 1 Gombe Utd

Sharks FC v Wikki

The visiting side might go into this game so much superstition in mind considering the fact that the side lost by 1 – 6 exactly a year ago in last season’s campaign. Victor Ezeji tormented Wikki in that encounter by scoring four of the six goals – the first by any player in the Premier League. Another April tie involving the two sides also ended up in a two-nil defeat for Wikki. Ifeanyi Onyedika would be hoping that his side can end the hoodoo of visiting Port Harcourt in recent times and leaving with anything to show. The Blue Angels would aim for a win to move out of the drop zone.

Prediction: 2 – 1

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 21, 2009:            Wikki 1 – 1 Sharks FC

April 4, 2009:            Sharks FC 6 – 1 Wikki

Nov 22, 2008: Wikki 1 – 0 Sharks FC

March 26, 2008: Sharks FC 2 – 1 Wikki

Sept 29, 2007: Wikki 2 – 0 Sharks FC

Sept 17, 2005: Wikki 0 – 0 Sharks FC

April 8, 2005: Sharks FC 2 – 0 Wikki

Kwara Utd v Kaduna Utd

In three head-to-head meetings in the past three years, Kaduna United is still seeking its first point against Kwara United. The last visit of Kaduna United to Ilorin ended in a 1 – 4 loss in February 2007. The Afonja Warriors would definitely go into this tie licking its lips with the aim of completing the double on Kaduna United after a 2 – 1 win in the first game this season. A win can see Kwara United close the gap on the pacesetters, Enyimba and Kano Pillars. On paper, the Ilorin club looks the better of the two outfits with the common name ‘United.’

Prediction: 2 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 22, 2009: Kaduna Utd 1 – 2 Kwara Utd

May 15, 2007: Kaduna Utd 1 – 2 Kwara Utd

Feb 7, 2007: Kwara Utd 4 – 1 Kaduna Utd

3SC v Lobi Stars

Last weekend, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) was hard done by poor officiating in Kaduna and lost 0 – 3 after letting down its guard. But Mutiu Adepoju believes that his side has overcome the setback of that clash last Sunday ahead of Lobi Stars’ visit. Lobi Stars returned to winning ways last weekend but still remain in the drop zone and might just remain there by the end of this weekend, as the Oluyole Warriors in dire need of a home win to continue its bid to retain its Premier League status after battling out of relegation in recent weeks. Stars should nick this though it has drawn as much as it has won at home front.

Prediction: 1 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 22, 2009: Lobi Stars 2 – 0 3SC

June 24, 2006: Lobi Stars 1 – 1 3SC

April 15, 2006: 3SC 1 – 1 Lobi Stars

Sept 17, 2005: Lobi Stars 2 – 2 3SC

April 8, 2005: 3SC 2 – 1 Lobi Stars

Sunday

Zamfara Utd v Sunshine Stars

With just one point above the relegation line, Zamfara United goes into this tie with a must-win target or else could find itself in the dogfight by next week. Zamfara United would have its work cut out against continent-seeking Sunshine Stars, which has dropped 33 points on the road so far in this season’s campaign. Solomon Ogbeide’s team is beginning to look like a side being left behind in the hunt for a continental ticket, as it is six points behind leader, Enyimba. Though it won the first meeting in Akure, Sunshine Stars has not picked a point in Gusau in two years with the corresponding fixture ending 1 – 2 in favour of Zamfara United. If placed side by side, the visiting team has got the quality to grab a point in this game.

Prediction: 1 – 1

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 22, 2009: Sunshine Stars 2 – 0 Zamfara Utd

May 10, 2009: Zamfara Utd 2 – 1 Sunshine Stars

Dec 21, 2008: Sunshine Stars 1 – 1 Zamfara Utd

May 25, 2008: Zamfara Utd 1 – 0 Sunshine Stars

Jan 5, 2008: Sunshine Stars 0 – 0 Zamfara Utd

Rangers v Ocean Boys

Played six games in March – won one, drew one and lost four. That is the woeful record of Ocean Boys, notorious for switching coaches at will. Emmanuel Amuneke has not had a great time, as Ocean Boys is now the basement side of the Premier League going into the game against the Flying Antelopes. Rangers has been left to rue its lack of cutting edge in killing off teams at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu that has led to its dropping out of the top four. Alphonsus Dike’s men can climb temporarily into the top four again depending on the outcome of games involving Sunshine Stars and Kwara United since Warri Wolves and Enyimba would wait till Thursday to face their opponents due to African club competitions. Except for profligacy in front of goal, Rangers should further condemn to Ocean Boys to the dogfight.

Prediction: 2 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 21, 2009: Ocean Boys 1 – 0 Rangers

Feb 25, 2009: Rangers 2 – 0 Ocean Boys

Jan 18, 2009: Ocean Boys 1 – 0 Rangers

March 23, 2008: Rangers 1 – 0 Ocean Boys

Nov 18, 2007: Ocean Boys 3 – 0 Rangers

May 15, 2007: Rangers 2 – 0 Ocean Boys

Feb 7, 2007: Ocean Boys 1 – 2 Rangers