Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, Champions, Plateau United
Football Club of Jos will face Akwa United of Uyo in a rescheduled
fixture of the NPFL at the Goodswill Akpabio International stadium this
Wednesday, without ten of its first team players. The peace boys, as they are fondly called by their admirers, will be
facing the Abdullahi Maikaba-tutored side under-strength after the spate
of injuries affecting the team continued last weekend.
First to limb out shortly after half time against Katsina United
during the week 20 fixture was one of its influential midfielders,
Raphael Ayagwa, who sustained a groin injury in the process of taking a
shot and was slightly tripped by a desperate Katsina United defender.
Ayagwa, who only joined the team from North-Central rivals and
current league leaders, Lobi Stars, at the beginning of the season has
not been lucky with injuries as that has cost him a place in the
home-based Super Eagles team to the Championship of African Nations CHAN
in Morocco earlier this year.
According to the Club’s Media Officer, Albert Dakup, in a chat with
sports journalists, “his absence was obviously missed during his team’s
return leg of the CAF Champions League against Etoile Du Sahel of
Tunisia in Kano after he picked another knock during an NPFL tie against
Niger Tornadoes of Minna as he was sidelined for more than three weeks.
“Another player who will be missing the tie is former member of the
World conquering Golden Eaglets team of 2007 led by the late Coach, Yemi
Tella, King Osanga,” he added.
Osanga, who joined the defending NPFL Champions at the beginning of
the season, has been one of the shinning light of the Jos-based side in
the continental and NPFL campaign this season with his scintillating
performances, including a superb goal against USM Algiers of Algeria in
the CAF Confederations Cup played at the Agege Township Stadium, Lagos.
Albert maintained that, “The absence of the duo will leave a big void
in Plateau United’s midfield which is already short of personnel
following injuries to Benjamin Turba, Ibeh Johnson, Sunday Ngbede and
long term absentees, Lazarus Fan and Charles Henlong who are yet to
feature for the team this season”.
“Other players who are also out over injuries are goalkeeper, Dele
Ajiboye, Hamisu Sale and Golbe Elisha, who did not feature in the team’s
last fixture due to varying degrees of injuries they are nursing.
However, there is good news from the treatment table as most of them
will be fit and available for selection during the weekend encounter
against Nassarawa United FC as they keep hopes alive of retaining their
league crown at the end of the season.
Albert further stated that despite the absence of the aforementioned
first team players, the team is battle ready to give a good account of
itself against their host Akwa United by ensuring that it comes back
with a decent result.
Plateau United who are currently occupying the fifth spot on the
league table still have another outstanding match against the Lobi Stars
of Makurdi next week Wednesday.