Good morning All,
This evening, at about 4pm, we go head to head with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in Ibadan. The team should be fired from our 3-0 win from their last matchday fixture against Katsina United and head coach Yemi ‘Yema’ Olanrewaju will have a full complement of his squad for this game.
This is a game that is delicately poised and Yema isn’t giving much away as he is quietly planning. Last season, he led the team to a 2-1 win in Ibadan while his former boss, Finidi George, now with Rivers United, was away on international duty. So I expected Shooting Stars head coach Gbenga Ogunbote, to be wary of the ‘Star Coach,’ as Yema is often called, and what his men can do.
I think this is a good time for the nine-time Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) winners to make that trip to Ibadan. Yes, they are most vulnerable at the moment with their inconsistent run of just one win in five league matches so far in this in this campaign, compared to Enyimba sitting in second place with four wins from five matches – imperious that should sound in the ears of Shooting Stars faithful.
Last season, when Enyimba made the trip to the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, Shooting Stars were on a dismal run of just a win in eight league matches (W1 D3 L4). The People’s Elephant went into their turf, saw and conquered!
This time round, Yema and his men carry the psychological edge into this match with their impressive start to the season, and I expect them to play for the full points. The men are sure available in the like of Clinton Jephtha, Eze Ekwutoziam, Daniel Daga, Ekene Awazie, Imo Obot, Kalu Nweke, Paschal Eze, Unwana Asuquo and Somiari Alalibo among others.
I foresee a game that will not be big on goals like the three it produced last time out. Reason: this contest will be mostly played, won or lost from the dug out – a case of who blinks first. However I expect Enyimba to take a result with them back to Aba.
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Meanwhile, while Enyimba’s contingent will be busy in Ibadan on Sunday, there is a knotty issue of overdue payables and breach of contracts that has been brought against the club, according to a statement by the NPFL on Thursday.
Sanctions are looming on Enyimba over failing to honour contracts with former players, Stephen Chukwude and Chijioke Akuneto, to the end. This could mean being unable to field their new signings from Matchday 7 if not resolved. There are nine other clubs entangled in this situation anyway.
Part of NPFL’s statement on their X account read: “Clubs currently facing complaints of overdue payables & contract breaches have been given Monday, October 14, 2024 to resolve the issue or have the licences of their new players withdrawn indefinitely.
“The NPFL had earlier given the affected clubs an extended grace until Friday, October 11 as directed by @thenff Players Status Committee. Any of the affected clubs with unresolved cases will have licences of their new players withdrawn until the issues are resolved.
“The clubs facing complaints over overdue payables & contract breaches are Heartland, 3SC, Bendel Insurance, Kwara Utd, Lobi Stars, El-Kanemi, Abia Warriors, Enyimba, Katsina Utd & Akwa Utd.
“Enyimba also have unresolved cases from arbitration with Stephen Chukwude (N5m) & Chijioke Akuneto (N1.2m)….”
Hopefully this is resolved before the next matchweek when the club will play hosts to Niger Tornadoes in the coming midweek.
Shooting stars 0 – 2 Enyimba Fc