Title In Enyimba’s Hands Now – Emordi

In spite of a 3 - 1 loss in Akure last Friday to Sunshine Stars, head coach of Enyimba, Okey Emordi, is confident that his side has played itself in a vantage position in claiming its first Premier League title in three years.

The Peoples Elephant travels to Port Harcourt on Monday to face Dolphin Football Club in a Week 37 match.

Emordi told Naijaligue.blogspot.com that though his side enjoys a four-point lead over closest rival and another former Nigerian champion, Kano Pillars, he still feels that the heat for the league trophy is still on.

At the same time, Emordi, who completed a move from rival club, Heartland Football Club of Owerri this season, is happy with the current position that the Peoples Elephant has found itself with just two rounds of matches to go.

The former African Coach of the Year award winner knows that Kano Pillars is still within catching distance to his side and said he has urged his team to give its best to the run-in to the title especially with the decisive game scheduled to hold in Aba between the two leading sides.

“Now we have our destiny in our hands concerning the title. We have a four-point lead in the league, which at this time of the season is good for us. So I can say that we have at least one hand on the league trophy now and we cannot afford to let it slip.

“But we also know that if we start thinking that we have won the title when there are still two matches to play, our rivals (Kano Pillars) can harm us and we will lose everything. So we will guard against being overconfident at this point in the season,” Emordi said.

Enyimba is expected to travel first to Port Harcourt to face 2004 champion of the league, Dolphin Football Club before it returns to Aba to play host to fellow title contender, Kano Pillars, in a game that has been described as the decider for this season’s campaign.

Emordi, however, hopes that his side would have wrapped up the title before the last game in Aba.

“They (Kano Pillars) are a good side and I know that they will chase all the way till the end. But we can do ourselves a lot of favour by ensuring that we do not lose our remaining games before the meeting with them (Kano Pillars) in Aba. That way it is possible that our last game will be just a mere formality,” said the former Enugu Rangers’ man.

The Aba Elephant also dropped the hint on other clubs in the Premier League that the title race is now between his team and Kano Pillars.

“I think it is now us and Kano Pillars that can win the title. I don’t see any other club coming near us now. But I believe our chances are very bright more than ever,” he rounded off.

Enyimba is eyeing a sixth title after triumphs in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007.