WEEK 34 PREVIEWS

Sunday, May 30

Ocean Boys v Gateway FC

This is a battle between 17th and 19th placed sides on the Premier League table. It is a typical relegation dogfight, and the winner should climb out of the drop zone at the end of this weekend. I am tipping 2006 champion, Ocean Boys, to pick all points from this game based on current form guide. In spite of assurances from Gateway Football Club head coach, Toyin Ayinla, of escaping relegation, the Rock City Boys appears to have lost its way and is primed to drop to the lower division at the end of the season. Ocean Boys should repeat last season’s feat when it beat Gateway FC two-nil on March 7, 2009 at the Ughelli Township Stadium.

Prediction: 2 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Feb 6, 2010: Gateway FC 2 – 0 Ocean Boys

March 7, 2009: Ocean Boys 2 – 0 Gateway FC

Oct 25, 2008: Gateway FC 0 – 1 Ocean Boys

Shooting Stars v Wolves

It is the first time in five years that Warri Wolves would make the trip to Ibadan in a top-flight game after it changed name from NPA Seasiders. The last trip to the Lekan Salami Stadium was on November 13, 2005 when it lost by 1 – 2. Wolves also lost this same fixture in the previous season of 2004 by three-nil. Fatai Amoo’s team is living dangerously, as it is perched just one place above relegation zone with two points difference. Expect Uche Nwofor to shoulder most of the attacking forays of Shooting, but it is the lack of cutting edge of the Ibadan side in front of goal that could be its undoing though Wolves has been poor on the road so far.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Feb 7, 2010: Wolves 2 – 0 Shooting Stars

Nov 13, 2005: Shooting Stars 2 – 1 NPA

June 3, 2005: NPA 1 – 1 Shooting Stars

June 26, 2004: NPA 4 – 1 Shooting Stars

March 3, 2004: Shooting Stars 3 – 0 NPA

Kwara Utd v Bayelsa Utd

It is safe to call Bayelsa United former champion now, as Enyimba and Kano Pillars are in pole position. The Afonja Warriors would be aiming to complete the double on the champion this season after winning the first meeting 2 – 1 in Yenagoa in February. The trouble Bayelsa United has facing the Ilorin side is breaking down its mean defence, which has conceded just one goal at home all season. It is going to be a difficult game in Ilorin because both sides have produced just four goals in five previous meetings. Justin Tenger’s men look good for all three points in this tie.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Feb 7, 2010: Bayelsa United 1 – 2 Kwara United

May 25, 2008: Kwara United 0 – 0 Bayelsa United

Jan 6, 2008: Bayelsa United 1 – 0 Kwara United

July 15, 2006: Bayelsa United 0 – 0 Kwara United

May 5, 2006:  Kwara United 0 – 0 Bayelsa United

Sharks v Ranch Bees

My verdict for this game is that Ranch Bees would remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table after this game. The signs that it would lose in Port Harcourt are ominious – no away victories, failed to score in 17 games and has conceded an average of 2.06 goals on the road. Currently on a rich vein of form, the Blue Angels has won three in its last five games while the Bees has picked just one pick in same number of matches. Without words, Ranch Bees is set for relegation and Sharks should add more woes to its trouble.

Prediction: 3 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Feb 6, 2010: Ranch Bees 2 – 1 Sharks

Wikki v Rangers

This is the 15th meeting between the two clubs since February 12, 2003. According to the stats available to Naijaligue.blogspot.com the Flying Antelopes has only won once and drawn once in six trips to the Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi. In the reverse fixture this season, Rangers won by a lone goal with the corresponding fixture of last season ending goalless. Alphonsus Dike’s side knows that any slip in this game could further dent its continental aspiration, as it lost the chance to remain third on the log. But with Wikki in relegation, it would be a difficult trip to Bauchi for the Coal City side, as it has managed just one victory on the road all season.

Prediction: 2 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Feb 7, 2010: Rangers 1 – 0 Wikki

May 9, 2009: Wikki 0 – 0 Rangers

Dec 21, 2008: Rangers 1 – 0 Wikki

April 23, 2008: Rangers 1 – 0 Wikki

Dec 1, 2007: Wikki 0 – 0 Rangers

June 9, 2007:  Rangers 1 – 2 Wikki

March 10, 2007: Wikki 1 – 2 Rangers

Jan 17, 2007:  Rangers 2 – 0 Wikki

June 17, 2006: Rangers 2 – 0 Wikki

June 6, 2006: Wikki 1 – 0 Rangers

June 12, 2004: Wikki 1 – 0 Rangers

March 7, 2004: Rangers 2 – 0 Wikki

June 14, 2003: Wikki 1 – 0 Rangers

Feb 12, 2003: Rangers 2 – 1 Wikki

Sunshine Stars v Enyimba

Countdown to the title begins with this match in Akure for five-time champion, Enyimba. Since July 16, 2003, the Peoples Elephant is yet to pick a point off Sunshine Stars at the Akure Township Stadium, as two other visits have ended in defeats including last season’s corresponding fixture that ended one-nil on December 6, 2008. The Aba club failed to capitalise on Pillars’ slip in Kano last weekend when it lost one-nil to struggling Gateway Football Club in Abeokuta. But this is going to be a bumpy journey for the Elephants.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Feb 7, 2010: Enyimba 2 – 1 Sunshine Stars

March 22, 2009: Enyimba 2 – 1 Sunshine Stars

Dec 6, 2008: Sunshine Stars 1 – 0 Enyimba

May 18, 2008: Sunshine Stars 2 – 0 Enyimba

Jan 16, 2008: Enyimba 1 – 0 Sunshine Stars

July 16, 2003: Sunshine Stars 1 – 1 Enyimba

Feb 23, 2003: Enyimba 1 – 0 Sunshine Stars

Kaduna Utd v Dolphin

In the first meeting United slumped to a 1 – 2 loss at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt and would be keen to record its third win in six games. Last Saturday, the impressive form of the 2004 champion was responsible for Pillars’ capitulation in its bid to win the title, and it would hope to continue its fine form at the home of another northern side. Stanley Eguma’s side is set to pick another point in Kaduna.

Prediction: 1 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Feb 6, 2010: Dolphin 2 – 1 Kaduna United

Lobi Stars v Kano Pillars

Still stunned by last weekend’s home draw to Dolphin, league leader, Kano Pillars travel to Makurdi to face Lobi Stars, where it has won once in seven years. With an average age of 22 years, both sides would be meeting for the sixth time at the Aper Aku Stadium with Lobi having the upperhand of having won four, drew one and lost one. Last season, Pillars lost 1 – 3 in Makurdi and in this season’s reverse fixture won two-nil. Pillars would be fired up for this game after it was banished to Calabar by the Premier League and a draw would do.

Prediction: 0 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Feb 6, 2010: Kano Pillars 2 – 0 Lobi Stars

May 24, 2009: Lobi Stars 3 – 1 Kano Pillars

Nov 29, 2008: Kano Pillars 1 – 1 Lobi Stars

Feb 9, 2008: Kano Pillars 2 – 0 Lobi Stars

Oct 14, 2007: Lobi Stars 0 – 0 Kano Pillars

Oct 8, 2005: Kano Pillars 1 – 0 Lobi Stars

April 30, 2005: Lobi Stars 3 – 0 Kano Pillars

Aug 14, 2004: Kano Pillars 1 – 0 Lobi Stars

May 5, 2004: Lobi Stars 0 – 1 Kano Pillars

Aug 9, 2003: Lobi Stars 2 – 1 Kano Pillars

May 27, 2003: Kano Pillars 1 – 0 Lobi Stars

Zamfara Utd v Tornadoes

In its last five games, Zamfara United has won just once with two draws and two losses. But Tornadoes with the help Eagles Team B striker, Eugene Salami, has won all its last three home games and lost two on the road. In the reverse game, Tornadoes won 3 – 1 while this same fixture ended two all in Gusau on February 18, 2009. That was the only time that Tornadoes picked a point off Zamfara United in three visits to the Sardauna Memorial Stadium in Gusau. Austin Kadiri is expected to play a big role in this game considering his recent scoring form.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Feb 6, 2010: Tornadoes 3 – 1 Zamfara United

Feb 18, 2009: Zamfara United 2 – 2 Tornadoes

Oct 4, 2008: Tornadoes 0 – 0 Zamfara United

March 30, 2008: Zamfara United 3 – 2 Tornadoes

Nov 24, 2007: Tornadoes 3 – 1 Zamfara United

Oct 14, 2005: Tornadoes 3 – 2 Zamfara United

May 7, 2005: Zamfara United 1 – 0 Tornadoes

Heartland v Gombe Utd

The Naze Millionaires go into this game with a form guide of three wins and two losses in its last five games. It is also seeking to climb further into the top eight on the league table at the expense of Gombe United, which is just a place ahead of it. From all indications, Heartland would not be committing too much into the league campaign anymore this season after realising that it cannot finish within a continental position. But Ben Duamlong’s Gombe United should still expect fireworks at the Dan Anyiam Stadium from the Owerri-based club, as it would seek record maximum points after losing the reverse game by 1 – 2.

Prediction: 2 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Feb 6, 2010: Gombe United 2 – 1 Heartland

March 22, 2009: Gombe United 2 – 0 Heartland

Nov 9, 2008: Heartland 2 – 1 Gombe United

April 27, 2008: Heartland 4 – 0 Gombe United

Jan 9, 2008: Gombe United 1 – 0 Heartland

Aug 7, 2006: Heartland 1 – 0 Gombe United

May 27, 2006: Gombe United 1 – 0 Heartland

Aug 13, 2005: Gombe United 1 – 0 Nationale

March 6, 2005: Nationale 1 – 0 Gombe United

July 4, 2004: Gombe United 1 – 0 Nationale

March 17, 2004: Nationale 1 – 0 Gombe United