WEEK 35 PREVIEWS

Saturday, June 5

Dolphin FC v Sunshine Stars

It was a poor response from Dolphin Football Club at Kaduna United last weekend when it fell 0 – 3 after shocking pundits the previous week with a 1 – 1 draw at Kano Pillars. Stanley Eguma now knows that the continental dream is over but his side still needs to finish as high as possible in the league log. In the reverse fixture, tough-tackling Sunshine Stars won by a lone goal in Akure, and Dolphin is set to be grilled in another hard-tackling game against the top-flight’s unarguably hardest side. But I think that the Port Harcourt side should edge this one to remain in the top 10 of the Premier League table.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Jan 31, 2010: Sunshine Stars 1 – 0 Dolphin

July 27, 2003: Dolphin 3 – 0 Sunshine Stars

March 5, 2003: Sunshine Stars 1 – 1 Dolphin

Kano Pillars v Kaduna Utd

The name of Ahmed Musa would continue to reign in the media until the season ends, and it might continue if he eventually sets a new goals’ record for a single season. But Pillars would be put under test to see how it responds playing home in a different terrain from its comfortable ambience at the Sani Abacha Stadium. The venue of this game is the U. J. Esuene Stadium and there will be no hostile Kano fans. But Salisu Yusuf is very confident that his side still remains in the title race in the wake of being banished to Calabar by the Premier League. But Pillars should triumph here.

Prediction: 2 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Jan 31, 2010: Kaduna United 0 – 0 Kano Pillars

Feb 7, 2009: Kano Pillars 1 – 0 Kaduna United

Sept 14, 2008: Kaduna United 2 – 1 Kano Pillars

March 10, 2007: Kano Pillars 3 – 1 Kaduna United

Jan 17, 2007: Kaduna United 0 – 0 Kano Pillars

Gateway FC v Lobi Stars

The Rock City Boys is in serious trouble and it is looking like a big candidate for relegation except a miracle takes place. The teams ahead of it, Bayelsa United and Wikki, have games in hand and that makes it worse for the Abeokuta outfit. But this is a must-win game, and Toyin Ayinla’s men would throw everything into it because it has nothing to lose. Gateway has won just once in five games while Lobi Stars has won three in five losing two. Ayinla’s side needs to win this to give themselves a chance of remaining in the top-flight or else Gateway would suffer the slip and to the disappointment of its sole financier, the Ogun State government. Last two visits of Lobi Stars have ended in one defeat and one loss with the corresponding fixture ending in a one-nil loss. But Ayinla’s men should triumph.

Prediction: 2 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Jan 31, 2010: Lobi Stars 2 – 1 Gateway FC

March 29, 2009: Gateway FC 1 – 0 Lobi Stars

Nov 16, 2008: Lobi Stars 1 – 0 Gateway FC

July 30, 2005: Lobi Stars 2 – 0 Gateway FC

Feb 19, 2005: Gateway FC 0 – 0 Lobi Stars

Tornadoes v Kwara Utd

Third and fourth placed teams clash in this epic tie in Minna. In March 2007, Kwara United won three-nil at the Bako Kontagora Stadium and even got a draw in the 2003 season in its last five visits to Minna. Ladan Bosso and his men are smelling a continental finish this season and they feel this game can do a lot in boasting that target like in realising that dream like Bosso told me. It is a difficult call because this is a battle for third place. Kwara United is capable of earning a point away from home though Eugene Salami has been prolific for Tornadoes lately in front of goal.

Prediction: 1 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Jan 30, 2010: Kwara United 2 – 0 Tornadoes

May 15, 2008: Kwara United 3 – 1 Tornadoes

Dec 15, 2007: Tornadoes 1 – 0 Kwara United

March 27, 2007: Tornadoes 0 – 3 Kwara United

Jan 6, 2007: Kwara United 0 – 0 Tornadoes

Sept 9, 2005: Tornadoes 1 – 0 Kwara United

April 1, 2005: Kwara United 1 – 1 Tornadoes

Aug 21, 2004: Tornadoes 1 – 0 Kwara United

April, 14, 2004: Kwara United 1- 0 Tornadoes

June 21, 2003: Kwara United 2 – 0 Tornadoes

Feb 16, 2003: Tornadoes 0 – 0 Kwara United

Ranch Bees v Zamfara Utd

Definite relegation candidate, Ranch Bees, would play host to Zamfara United in Calabar, where it has lost its last two games to Enyimba and Lobi Stars. Zamfara United won the first meeting this season two-nil and could complete the double over a disarrayed Bees’ side at the U.J. Esuene Stadium on Saturday. With a composed performance Zamfara can leave Calabar with a draw.

Prediction: 1 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Jan 31, 2010: Zamfara United 2 – 0 Ranch Bees

Gombe Utd v Sharks

Both clubs have met 11 times in the past seven seasons including a 1 – 1 draw in the reverse fixture in Port Harcourt. There is no way that the Blue Angels can escape Gombe with a point considering how difficult it is in that terrain. Gombe United has lost twice in its last five games and has won three same as Sharks. A win for the Desert Scorpions would mean one step climb upwards from 10 th to ninth position on the Premier League table and Ben Duamlong’s men are primed for that though they are noted for earning slim results at home but at least they get the job done.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Jan 30, 2010: Sharks 1 – 1 Gombe United

Feb 7, 2009: Sharks 0 – 0 Gombe United

Sept 14, 2008: Gombe United 1 – 0 Sharks

April 12, 2008: Sharks 3 – 1 Gombe United

Dec 9, 2007: Gombe United 0 – 0 Sharks

Aug 16, 2006: Gombe United 3 – 0 Sharks

June 2, 2006: Sharks 2 – 1 Gombe United

Dec 18, 2005: Sharks 0 – 3 Gombe United

June 11, 2005: Gombe United 0 – 0 Sharks

Sept 14, 2003: Gombe United 3 – 1 Sharks

March 26, 2003: Sharks 1 – 1 Gombe United

Sunday, June 6

Rangers v Heartland

This is the biggest clash of the week. It is the Oriental Derby between two of the south-east biggest sides. If Heartland’s captain, Chinedu Efugh, features, it would be his second trip to his former team after his side won 3 – 1 in this same game last season on March 7, 2009 though the game was played in Nnewi. The Flying Antelopes lost by a lone goal in the first meeting this season and manager of the month for April, Alphonsus Dike, is keen on finishing in the top three this and wants to win this game. The Naze Millionaires are struggling away from home this season, which is unusually and expect Rangers to win this.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Jan 31, 2010: Heartland 1 – 0 Rangers

March 7, 2009: Rangers 1 – 3 Heartland

Oct 26, 2008: Heartland 1 – 0 Rangers

April 13, 2008: Heartland 1 – 0 Rangers

Dec 9, 2007: Rangers 2 – 0 Heartland

March 7, 2007: Rangers 1 – 1 Heartland

Jan 14, 2007: Heartland 1 – 0 Rangers

May 31, 2005: Rangers 1 – 0 Nationale

Nov 2, 2005: Nationale 1 – 0 Rangers

July 29, 2004: Nationale 1 – 0 Rangers

March 31, 2004: Rangers 0 – 0 Nationale

June 18, 2003: Nationale 2 – 0 Rangers

Feb 5, 2003: Rangers 2 – 1 Nationale

Enyimba v Wikki

Last weekend in Akure, its game against Sunshine Stars did not finish after it was abandoned few minutes to half-time. Wikki’s best result in Aba remains two draws in 2007 and 2004. But with the form of Wikki on the road nothing good should come out of this tie as the Peoples Elephant is chasing a record sixth title in the top-flight. The Aba Elephant is seeking to topple rival, Kano Pillars, and a win in this game would suffice depending on the outcome of Kano Pillars’ clash against Kaduna United in Calabar.

Prediction: 2 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Jan 30, 2010: Wikki 1 – 0 Enyimba

June 6, 2009: Enyimba 1 – 0 Wikki

Jan 3, 2009: Wikki 0 – 0 Enyimba

Feb 20, 2008: Wikki 3 – 1 Enyimba

Oct 21, 2007: Enyimba 2 – 2 Wikki

June 5, 2007: Wikki 1 – 2 Enyimba

Sept 24, 2005: Enyimba 3 – 0 Wikki

April 16, 2005: Wikki 0 – 0 Enyimba

June 26, 2004: Wikki 2 – 0 Enyimba

March 14, 2004: Enyimba 1 – 1 Wikki

Wolves v Ocean Boys

In recent three meetings between 2008 and 2010, Warri Wolves has not lost to Ocean Boys in a top-flight game. With the season barely over, the job of Lawrence Akpokona is already on line. Wolves is two places from continental places and the management of the club is not happy with the team’s position. But Ocean Boys should not pose a problem in this game after the Warri-based side grabbed a 1 – 1 draw in the first meeting on January 31 this year. Akpokona’s men are expected to fight for a continental finish till the end of the season starting with this game.

Prediction: 1 – 0

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Jan 31, 2010: Ocean Boys 1 – 1 Wolves

March 22, 2009: Ocean Boys 1 – 1 Wolves

Nov 9, 2008: Wolves 2 – 0 Ocean Boys

Bayelsa Utd v Shooting Stars

Fatai Amoo’s men won the reverse fixture by a lone goal but it was under the guidance of Mutiu Adepoju as interim head coach. Bayelsa United at this stage has been dethroned as champion and surprisingly is fighting to remaining in the top division. It has lost once at home but Amoo’s men do not look like a side that can ruffle the feathers of the titleholder in Yenagoa. This should be the Stars’ 14th loss of the season going by the stats of its away form.

Prediction: 2 – 1

RECENT HEAD-TO-HEAD

Jan 30, 2010: Shooting Stars 2 – 0 Bayelsa United