WEEK 28 PREVIEWS

Saturday

Gateway FC v Bayelsa Utd

The Rock City Boys in five game has won just once and that was a 4 – 0 bashing of Ranch Bees on coach Toyin Ayinla’s first game in charge since taking the job of head coach at Gateway Football Club. The champion, Bayelsa United, has not faired better having won twice in its last five games. Last season, Bayelsa United lost 0 – 2 in this fixture, and its form on the road this term has been terrible having lost 10 in 13 away games. On the other hand, Gateway FC’s only home loss was at the hands of Shooting Stars, and Ayinla would be hoping to see his side put spanners in the wheels of the titleholder. It is difficult to call, but the Rock City Boys should just nick this one.

Prediction: 2 – 1

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 29, 2009: Bayelsa Utd 2 – 1 Gateway FC

May 9, 2009: Gateway FC 2 – 0 Bayelsa Utd

Dec 21, 2008: Bayelsa Utd 1 – 0 Gateway FC

Kano Pillars v Tornadoes

Once again, there will be no Ahmad Musa and Solomon Okpako for Kano Pillars, as they would be away with the Super Eagles Team B for the ongoing WAFU Cup in Abeokuta. But Pillars has shown that it can cope well without its top scorer, Musa, this season like it did against Gombe United. Tornadoes would also miss Eugene Salami, who is also on duty with the home-based Eagles. Earlier in the season, Kano Pillars got a point off Tornadoes, who has had an inconsistent run this season though it has remained within touching distance of the top clubs on the league log. Pillars has lost just once – to Heartland in Owerri – in its last five games compared to Tornadoes’ two wins, one draw and two losses. There is no way Tornadoes will escape defeat in Kano considering Pillars’ fine home run and with the likes of Gambo Mohammed, Victor Namo and Moses Ogaga waiting to fill in for the absent Musa.

Prediction: 2 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 28, 2009: Tornadoes 1 – 1 Kano Pillars

Feb 28, 2009: Kano Pillars 0 – 0 Tornadoes

Oct 18, 2008: Tornadoes 1 – 0 Kano Pillars

April 12, 2008: Tornadoes 1 – 1 Kano Pillars

Dec 8, 2007: Kano Pillars 2 – 0 Tornadoes

March 25, 2007: Kano Pillars 3 – 1 Tornadoes

Jan 27, 2007: Tornadoes 1 – 0 Kano Pillars

Nov 13, 2005: Tornadoes 1 – 0 Kano Pillars

June 3, 2005: Kano Pillars 2 – 0 Tornadoes

Dolphin v Ranch Bees

In the reverse fixture of this game, Dolphin lost by 0 – 2 in Kaduna, and Stanley Eguma would rally his men for this one since the club is just two points above the drop zone. Just as Dolphin will be without left-back Mutiu Adegoke, the club has the likes of Joseph Obinna and Victor Ezuruike, who are back in the side. The last time, Ranch Bees visited Port Harcourt it lost by 1 – 2, and Bees has had a terrible away record this season. In 13 games, it has lost 11 games. Eguma’s men must also watch out for March Player of the Month, Stephen Saviour, who lifted Bees singlehandled last month. But Dolphin will have itself to blame if it fails to pick all three points in this game.

Prediction: 1 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 28, 2009: Ranch Bees 2 – 0 Dolphin

June 6, 2006: Ranchers Bees 2 – 0 Dolphin

June 16, 2006: Dolphin 2 – 1 Ranchers Bees

Wikki v Heartland

The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has stated that Heartland will have to honour its away game against Wikki Tourist on Saturday after its rescheduled Week 27 game against Enyimba was shifted. Since 2005, there have been nine meetings between the two sides in the top-flight including a shock goalless draw in the reverse fixture in Owerri. However, the bad news for the Naze Millionaires is that it has not won in its last four visits to Wikki and that may not change with key players away on duty with the Super Eagles Team B at the ongoing WAFU Cup in Abeokuta. Last season, Heartland lost this same fixture by a lone goal and another defeat stares the Owerri-based club in the face at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.

Prediction: 1 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 29, 2009: Heartland 0 – 0 Wikki

Feb 25, 2009: Heartland 1 – 0 Wikki

Jan 17, 2009: Wikki 1 – 0 Heartland

Feb 6, 2008: Wikki 1 – 0 Heartland

Oct 17, 2007: Heartland 1 – 0 Wikki

May 1, 2007: Wikki 2 – 1 Heartland

Feb 4, 2007: Heartland 0 – 0 Wikki

Oct 22, 2005: Wikki 1 – 0 Nationale

May 17, 2005: Nationale 2 – 0 Wikki

Sunday

Ocean Boys v 3SC

This is a clash between 20th and 15th placed teams on the Premier League log. Ocean Boys has the most terrible record in the form guide of last five games in the top-flight reading four losses and a draw. The 2006 champion last picked a point in the Premier League on March 10 against Wikki Tourist (at home), which was almost a month ago. First meeting between the two sides this season ended goalless at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan. The only time both sides met in this same fixture was on May 5, 2006 in an abridged version of the league, which Ocean Boys won by one-nil before going on to win the title. Both clubs need points in this relegation dogfight and Emmanuel Amuneke would savour facing his former Super Eagles’ team-mate, Mutiu Adepoju, and putting one past him.

Prediction: 0 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 28, 2009: 3SC 0 – 0 Ocean Boys

July 15, 2006: 3SC 1 – 0 Ocean Boys

May 5, 2006: Ocean Boys 1 – 0 3SC

Enyimba v Gombe Utd

In the reverse game at the Abubakar Umar Memorial Stadium, Gombe, the Peoples Elephant left with a point. Five-time champion, Enyimba, should take advantage of Gombe United’s in-fighting to remain in contention for a sixth title. The two-time African champion has been boasted with its top scorer, Osas Idehen, after he was surprisingly dropped from the squad to the WAFU Cup. Gombe United has only picked a point off Enyimba in its last four visits to Aba and that was on June 9, 2007. But Okey Emordi’s men look set to continue their push for a title this season.

Prediction: 2 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 28, 2009: Gombe Utd 1 – 1 Enyimba

March 8, 2009: Enyimba 2 – 0 Gombe Utd

Oct 26, 2008: Gombe Utd 2 – 1 Enyimba

May 25, 2008: Enyimba 4 – 0 Gombe Utd

Jan 6, 2008: Gombe Utd 1 – 0 Enyimba

June 9, 2007: Enyimba 1 – 1 Gombe Utd

March 7, 2007: Gombe Utd 1 – 0 Enyimba

Jan 14, 2007: Enyimba 2 – 0 Gombe Utd

July 1, 2006: Gombe Utd 1 – 0 Enyimba

April 25, 2006: Enyimba 2 – 1 Gombe Utd

Sunshine Stars v Sharks

This is definitely going to be a difficult trip for the Blue Angels. Having climb out of the relegation zone for the first time this season, the Port Harcourt club is keen on getting result in this tie in Akure to ensure that it continues its climb to stay in the top-flight at the end of the season. But Sunshine Stars would be aiming for the double having won the reverse fixture by a lone goal last November. But Sunshine Stars could drop points since it has failed to score in 11 games this season, and John Obuh’s men could exploit that to earn themselves an important point.

Prediction: 1 – 1

Nov 28, 2009: Sharks 0 – 1 Sunshine Stars

Feb 14, 2009: Sharks 2 – 1 Sunshine Stars

Sept 24, 2008: Sunshine Stars 2 – 1 Sharks

April 5, 2008: Sunshine Stars 3 – 0 Sharks

Dec 1, 2007: Sharks 0 – 0 Sunshine Stars

Kaduna Utd v Zamfara Utd

The home side has the better form guide in its last five games with three wins and two losses compared to Zamfara United’s stuttering run of two wins, a draw and two losses. Both sides played out a 1 – 1 draw in Gusau this season, but Kaduna United would remember that it won this corresponding fixture by 3 – 1. There would be key battles on the pitch at the Kaduna Township Stadium and one of such would be between Zamfara United’s Austin Kadiri and Kaduna United defender, Efe Ambrose. But we would not be seeing the scoreline of 9 – 0 like last season, as Kaduna United is tipped to pick all points in this northern derby.

Prediction: 2 – 0

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 29, 2009: Zamfara Utd 1 – 1 Kaduna Utd

June 14, 2009: Zamfara Utd 9 – 0 Kaduna Utd

Jan 11, 2009: Kaduna Utd 3 – 1 Zamfara Utd

Lobi Stars v Kwara Utd

The biggest undoing of Lobi Stars this season has been failing to score goals when it mattered most. Overall, the Suswan Boys has failed to score in 15 matches – meaning the side has scored in 12 games. Evans Ogenyi should have looked up the log and realised that apart from Enyimba, his team’s opponent is the other side that has won three games on the road. Kwara United has not won in its last two visits to the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi including last season’s 2 – 3 loss on February 17, 2008. The game will also be a homecoming of some sort for Kwara United’s head coach, Justin Tenger, who hails from Benue State and he would want to score a point by leaving Makurdi with a result. Another game with a difficult call but Lobi Stars should grab the points.

Prediction: 1 – 0

Nov 28, 2009: Kwara Utd 2 – 0 Lobi Stars

Feb 17, 2008: Lobi Stars 3 – 2 Kwara Utd

Oct 20, 2007: Kwara Utd 1 – 1 Lobi Stars

Aug 6, 2005: Lobi Stars 1 – 1 Kwara Utd

Feb 26, 2005: Kwara Utd 2 – 1 Lobi Stars

Warri Wolves v Rangers

Coach Lawrence Akpokona would be facing his former club, Enugu Rangers, for the second time this season after a 1 – 1 draw in the first clash. Akpokona knows that a win for his side would see it return into the top four and displace the Flying Antelopes from that elite class in the league log. Alphonsus Dike should be worried with Wolves’ impressive home scoring record of two goals per game compared to his side’s away scoring form of 0.38 per game. Wolves has a handful of players like Tochukwu Mbachu, Michael Okoyoh and Ehiosun Ekigho who can wreck Rangers. Akpokona should win this one against his former team.

Prediction: 2 – 1

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Nov 29, 2009: Rangers 1 – 1 Warri Wolves

May 24, 2009: Rangers 3 – 0 Warri Wolves

Nov 30, 2008: Warri Wolves 2 – 0 Rangers

Aug 26, 2005: NPA 0 – 1 Enugu Rangers

March 23, 2005: Rangers 1 – 0 NPA