A solitary goal by Joseph Abiodun separated the Peoples Elephant from the Ikon Allah Boys last Sunday in Aba. The win added some momentum to our strides as we keep pace, early on with the frontrunners for the season’s ultimate crown.
In the league ,like the marathon where every stride counts,every point counts. At the end, the total points earned will place every club in a deserved position on the table. As they say, a team’s league position reflects it’s aggregate strength or weakness throughout the season.
With no continental fixtures embedded in our season’s league scheduling, the first month or two would afford our largely new-look team a week-long interval between league games to train and build the right synergy and chemistry ahead of the next one. Which hopefully will bring about cohesive team play.
This weekend, we play host again – this time to Nasarawa United. This presents an opportunity to consolidate on the gains of of the win against Tornadoes, build on the momentum and add more valuable points on the board.
The last time the Solid Miners visited, it was a rescheduled matchday 17 fixture last season. A match that saw Nigeria legend – Brown Ideye come off the bench to restore our lead after United’s hotshot – Anas Yusuf had cancelled Joseph Atule’s opener in a 2-1 win. A winning goal it proved, and which opened his account in the league, in his second spell after almost two decades of an illustrious playing career abroad.
This time, they will come with more familiar faces in their fold. From our former striker – Leonard Ugochukwu, to left-back – Imo Ikemdinachi, who found playing opportunities few and far between in his brief stint with us last season. Ugochukwu will fancy his chances against us, armed with good knowledge of the fabric and furniture at the club from his 3-year period in Aba, from 2015/16 to 2017/18 seasons. Though not noted for his prolific streak in front of goal when he was here,but he has shown he still knows his way to goal,as seen last weekend when he scored the winner for the Lafia boys against Abia Warriors.
In the visitors dugout will be a man – Mbwas Mangut -who would be motivated to show he has come of age. 20 years ago,he signed for Enyimba FC,and played in both the league and the CAF Champions league under coach Alphonsus Dike in the 2005/06 season.He was a key member of the club’s riches in midfield, alongside Kingsley Elvis, Chidozie Johnson, Prince Olomu, Sam Ledor and an emerging young precocious talent – Sunday Mba,who was deemed special and donned the no.10 shirt at the time.
Mangut returned to Heartland FC after only one season with us. At the end of his playing career ,he did his coaching badges,earned top coaching license and honed his craft as assistant to notable coaches in top NPFL clubs. He has since stepped up to be his own man in the technical area.Last Season,he came to town with Plateau United on the last day of the season and ran away with a 1-0 win in Aba. Inflicting on Enyimba the only home defeat of the season in all competitions.
This term,he is coming with Nasarawa United to show,last time was no fluke. Enyimba coach Stanley Eguma and his boys need to rise to this big occasion, be more clinical in front of goal and ensure the backline keep a close watch on the fox – Anas Yusuf – who finished last season as top scorer with 18 goals in the NPFL.
This is the time to make a statement with an emphatic win. And let the visiting team know that there is “No Mining Of Solid Goals or Precious Points In Our Backyard.”
Nzogbu
‘EnyimbaEnyi
