Promoted teams struggle but Olukoya Boys shine

At the beginning of the season, nobody gave Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries Football Club (MFM FC) any chance to perform well after gaining promotion from the Nigeria National League, but against all expectations, they have been standing tall among the four promoted teams.

MFM FC, Ikorodu United (both in Lagos), Niger Tornadoes and Plateau United gained promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League from the NNL.

Nothing much was expected from the privately owned clubs, with much expectation on the two government-run clubs, Tornadoes and Plateau United.

THE OLUKOYA BOYS

With many youth players and unknown top players, MFM FC took the league by storm winning their first top flight game away from home. They defeated Nasarawa United 2-1 in Lafia and they have not relented since then.

Coached by the young Fidelis Ilechukwu, the Olukoya Boys are currently eight on the league table with 22 points from 15 matches and were at a point top of the table.

They have in the team a natural goal scorer in 19 year old Stephen Odey, a freekick specialist, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and enterprising midfielders, Onuwa Chukwuka and Sikiru Olatunbosun.

PLATEAU UNITED

After spending few years in the lower division, Plateau United finally gained promotion and it has been a mixed season for the team from Jos.

At the beginning of the season, the club appointed seasoned coach, Zakary Baraje, as their technical adviser. Baraje won the Federation Cup with Akwa United and he was expected to take the club to a decent finish.

They started the league with a victory against fellow promoted team, Niger Tornadoes and have been getting the results here and there. They are currently occupying the 13th position after recording 19 points from 15 matches played this term.

NIGER TORNADOES

Not lagging behind is Niger Tornadoes, although a spot above the relegation zone in 16th position, they are two points behind Plateau United.

The Tornadoes lost their first game of the season away from home against Plateau and they have not really find the league easy, especially not having the luxury of playing their home matches in front of their fans.

The club currently uses the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja as their home ground as the Niger State government is currently working on their home ground.

IKORODU UNITED

The worst of all has to be Lagos-based team, Ikorodu United. It has been a difficult season for the Oga Boys as the team has been fondly called after gaining promotion.

The club has only won two of 15 games played so far; they recorded a 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars, and recently, the 3-1 home success against Heartland of Owerri, their biggest win of the season.

They are currently bottom of the league table with nine points from 15 matches played and it might be difficult for the team to escape relegation at the end of the season.

Former Super Falcons coach, Sam Okpodu, was drafted in to salvage the situation and he orchestrated the victory against Heartland.

The main target for Okpodu will be survival which looks very bleak at the moment, although they have been displaying a decent performance recently as they nearly snatched a point, when they played Kano Pillars in their last game before succumbing to Rabiu Ali’s second half goal.

Looking at all the four clubs, the only club showing class is MFM and with what they have done so far, they might have done enough to retain their league status for another season. But for Ikorodu United, it might be very difficult despite assurance by their coach that the team will survive at the end of the season.

Speaking after his team lost their game, the coach said they are going to give it a big fight.

“We are not going to give up because in our last three games, there has been a lot of progress in the team which is the result of work going on in the team,” Okpodu said.

“Before the mid-season, there will surely be a lot of surprises because the boys are beginning to get their act together.We are going to buy some players during the transfer market because there is need for players that can really get us victories.

“We have a good squad with a lot of young players in the team, but we need experience to help the younger ones.”