After six months of hiatus, the Nigeria Professional Football League is back with a cracking game between 2021 champions Akwa United and newly promoted Bendel Insurance on Sunday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Also selected for the return of the NPFL on TV, the fixture promises so much in terms of spectacle, as the Nest of Champions, Uyo is expected to provide the attraction the organisers need to market the league.
Atmosphere aside, it would be a testing ground for both teams, who have barely taken their legs off the pedal in anticipation of the start of the new season.
Insurance particularly had a tenacious run in he NNL Super Four and were crowned champions of the second tier after their promotion to the topflight.
Since then, they have recruited some familiar names and have also tested waters with the big boys during NPFL Super Four pre-season tournament in December, where they finished third.
One of their new recruits, Ebenezer Odeyemi, who was with relegated MFM FC and lately 3SC, believes Mosos Odigie’s side will survive the abridged league this time, unlike their ill-fated campaign in 2019, which was also an abridged league.
“As a player, my expectations shouldn’t be more than getting a good result because we’ve prepared and we go in with full confidence that we are going to get a positive result,” Odeyemi told PUNCH Sports Extra.
For former champions Akwa United, it’s the first full season under coach Deji Ayeni, who joined the club midway last season.
The Uyo team have unveiled 29 new players, including two from the youth side, ahead of the season.
Having had a full pre-season with the squad, former Sunshine Stars coach Ayeni, who had also worked with Insurance, understands the assignment ahead.
“We have prepared very well because we have been on it for the past four months. So, it’s going to be a good begining for the team.
“Our recruitments are according to our needs and I have confidence in the players. All the players have been tested through friendlies and I have my picks.
“We have a target this season and it’s in two ways. First, we have to qualify from the abridged league to the Super Six and from there to getting a continental ticket,” Ayeni said during the pre-match conference.
The last time both clubs met in the Nigerian topflight was in 2008, wheb Bendel Insurance won 3-2. They eventually got relegated that season, having finished 20th with 39 points.
Old things have passed away, though, and the energy is fresh from both sides, while the players will be excited about the prospects of a new season.
But as they are being soaked in the waters of excitement, it will go down to who desires the points more.
