NPFL Challenge: Shooting to beat Rangers in clash of legends

Welcome to another edition of the NPFL Challenge.

Our guest today is Julius Ogunro a media and strategy consultant based in Abuja.

Julius has both public and private sector experience of over one decade. He was the special assistant on media and strategy to the former minister of sports, Bolaji Abdullahi and before then, worked as a media aide to the former minister of information, late Dora Akunyili.

A recipient of several media awards, including the Cecil King prize for print Journalist of the Year 2008. He holds a master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos.

He last worked as a mainstream journalist in 2008 as editor of a newsmagazine in Lagos.

Welcome to NPFL Challenge!

GABROS V SHARKS              

Julius: After a six-goal thriller away to Taraba FC, Gabros are ready to pounce on Sharks of Port Harcourt in Nnewi. They have garnered 14 points from eight matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding six. I really like their never-say-die approach to games. Penultimate weekend, they defeated almighty Enyimba 2-0 in Nnewi and Rangers also suffered the same fate. Before then, Warri Wolves were devoured in Nnewi which is gradually turning into a slaughter slab. Sharks, on the other hand, are 18th on the log with a miserly seven points from eight matches. They have shown that they are bad travellers. Their best away record this season is the 2-2 draw against Lobi Stars at the Aper Aku Stadium. They have lost 2-0 to Pillars in Kano and 1-0 to Rangers in Enugu. But I see them picking a point here despite their poor form on the road.

Julius’ prediction: 1-1

Victor’s prediction: 1-0        

    

 

GIWA V TARABA     

Julius: There will be no hiding place for FC Taraba as the Tin City side host the Jalingo-based side at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos. Giwa got humiliated by Kukuruku Dragons in the Federation Cup round of 64 but I see Taraba paying for it. Giwa are second on the log with 15 points one point behind leaders, Sunshine Stars in the eight-week old Nigerian top flight. They will bag all three points here and overtake the leaders.

Julius’ prediction: 2-1

Victor’s prediction: 2-0        

DOLPHINS V ENYIMBA

Julius: Enyimba travel to Port Harcourt aiming to win their first away game of the season. The People’s Elephant battled to a shock 0-0 draw against Giwa in Aba last Sunday. They are placed ninth in Premier League standings with 12 points after grabbing three wins, three draws and three losses in eight encounters. Dolphins, who held Bayelsa United to a 2-2 draw at home last Sunday, occupy the 15th position on nine points. I see a draw here.

Julius’ prediction: 0-0

Victor’s prediction: 1-2            

SHOOTING STARS V ENUGU RANGERS           

Julius: Adamasingba Stadium will witness the legendary but fading rivalry between Shooting Stars and Rangers. The two most dominant clubs in the country in the 70s and 80s are in the bottom half of the table – Shooting are 17th on the log and Rangers 13th. Rangers’ embattled coach Kelechi Emeteole got a breather with the 1-0 win over Heartland last Sunday but the pressure to perform won’t abate until he’s able to steer the club to at least the top five. Franklin Howard is not finding it easy in Ibadan either. His team lost their last match in Akure and only a win here will placate the fans. They should bag all points available only because they are playing at home with the 12th man and 13th man behind them.

Victor: 12th man and 13th man? The fans and the referee?

Julius: Well, you can say that again.

Julius’ prediction: 1-0

Victor’s prediction: 1-0

NASARAWA UNITED V SUNSHINE STARS

Julius: Nasarawa United FC host table toppers, Sunshine Stars of Akure in Lafia but the Solid Miners will find it difficult to drill the Owena Waves! Agreed, Sunshine lost 3-1 to National League side, J.Atete in Benin during the Federation Cup round of 64 but the league is a different ball game. They will take a point to Akure in this encounter.

Julius’ prediction: 0-0

Victor’s prediction: 0-1               

ABIA WARRIORS V KANO PILLARS         

Julius: Like Enyimba, league champions Kano Pillars are in search of their win away from home when they travel to Umuahia to engage Abia Warriors. And they will be hoping to replicate the display that got them an away point in this fixture last year. I see the holders floundering yet again outside their fortress Sani Abacha Stadium.

Julius’ prediction: 1-0

Victor’s prediction: 0-0

EL-KANEMI WARRIORS V BAYELSA UNITED       

Julius: There can only be a winner in this game in Kano between El-Kanemi Warriors and Bayelsa United. The Port Harcourt side can try not to concede basket load of goals.

Julius’ prediction: 2-0

Victor’s prediction: 1-0      

 

WIKKI TOURIST V LOBI STARS         

Julius: First from the rear Lobi Stars seek a change of fortunes as they travel to Bauchi to face new boys Wikki Tourists. It is still early days, but Lobi are already a candidate for relegation as they are yet to win a game after eight weeks of action. Lobi have scored five goals and conceded nine with six points. All hope is not lost as they are “only” 10 points behind first-place Sunshine Stars on 16 points! They should pick a point here and kick start their season.

Julius’ prediction: 1-1

Victor’s prediction: 3-1  

HEARTLAND V AKWA UNITED                        

Julius: Heartland will be looking to rediscover their form when they face struggling Akwa United. The Owerri side started the season on a bright note but have slowed down lately. Last season, they were home and away winners in this fixture. I see them repeating the feat – at least at home, for now.

Julius’ prediction: 2-1

Victor’s prediction: 1-1

UP-CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH JULIUS OGUNRO

 

WHICH TEAM AMONG THE 20 NPFL CLUBS DO YOU SUPPORT?

Being a native of Delta, I tend to support Warri Wolves, which is the only team from the state in the Premiership. I have seen them play several times and I can boast that they play free flowing football. They are a great team, just that they have not won enough silverware to match the talent in the team. I also support the team because it is one of the factors that unite us in Delta state. There are many ethnic groups in the state but when Warri Wolves are playing, we are all Deltans – not Ijaw, Isoko or Anioma.

WHO’S YOUR FAVOURITE CURRENT PLAYER?

There are several players I like, but on latest form, I will pick Gbolahan Salami. He reminds me so much of Daniel Amokachi, the bull, in his hey days. He is big, and fast, and plays football as if his life is on the line. Very aggressive. I like that attitude in strikers. There are many other great players, but they do not stay long in the domestic league.  The lure of Europe is too strong.

 

WHEN DID YOU GO TO YOUR FIRST LEAGUE MATCH?

I can’t remember when I first went for my first league game. I grew up in Maroko, the old one, which was very close to the Onikan stadium in Lagos. Older friends and relative used to take us young boys to the stadium where we watch matches, mainly those of Stationery Stores. Good old days. But I was too young to understand it all.

WHO WAS YOUR FIRST LEAGUE HERO?

It should be Bright Pann. He played for NPA of Warri. He was a very good striker but for some reasons I could not fathom never played for the national team. I don’t know where he’s now but he was a very good striker.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MATCH?

It should be Warri Wolves v Enyimba in the 2013 FA Cup final which Enyimba won. The loss made me sad!

IF YOU HAD A TIME-MACHINE, WHICH LEAGUE PLAYER OR TEAM WOULD YOU GO BACK AND SEE PLAY?

If I had a time machine I would bring back the rivalry that used to exist among the big teams: Stores v Sooting; Rangers v Abiola Babes etc. In Maroko, we had neighbours who supported these teams and when they were playing, it was serious business. I recall a neighbour, Baba Lasisi, who could die for IICC Shooting Stars, or what he called Sooting same for indigenous Lagosians who supported Stores. I wish we could have that again, that ownership of teams by the community.

That’s our package for today. Do join us same time next week for another interesting edition.

Bye for now!