Nigerian Football
There’s No Stopping Plateau United, Swears Golbe
BY ANDREW RANDA.
When it rains, it pours says the adage and this can be used to describe Plateau United’s captain Elisha Golbe.
Much unheralded in his career and under the radar for a better part of it, he is on the cusp of being a Nigerian league champion-in fact, if Plateau can get a point against Rangers International on Sunday, Golbe will lift the trophy as captain.
It will be a season of blessings for the bulky defender who can also play in midfield. He’s gone double Dutch after being handed his first ever national call-up at any level by Salisu Yusuf’s CHAN team and now, it is just days away from having a title ring.
Golbe is soft spoken and calm a demeanour that betrays his bulky frame. However, on the field of play, he turns into a warrior who is ready to defend the colours of the ‘Sai United’.
An integral part of the team from the start of the season, he has led his troops to the brink of lifting the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title in only their second season back to the top flight.
Not only a leader in the team, he has also contributed his fair share of goals-four of them-via set pieces to aid Plateau United’s quest for a first ever league title in the club’s history.
Npfl.ng caught up with Golbe in Jos as he prepared for the big finale on Saturday against Rangers, a game, he said, will be like a cup final to him and his team-mates.
“We are battle ready, we are looking forward to lifting the league title and by God’s grace we shall do so on Saturday,” he told npfl.ng.
“The game against Rangers is like a cup final for us and we are taking it very seriously. We have not come this far to miss out on the trophy.
“Everybody is in high spirits for the match on Saturday because it is a very important match for us. I think everybody is prepared for the match.
“Come Sunday by the special grace of God, we are going to give our best and make sure that we get the three points and get crowned the champions of the 2016/17 NPFL season,”.
He also revealed that winning the title will be fulfilling a dream he has had since he became a professional footballer.
“Winning the title this season is going to be a great achievement to all of us because it is the pride of every player to win it because when you are playing professional football, you always dream that one day you will become a champion.
“Thank God, it is a dream coming true. It will mean a lot to us to win the Premier League this season.”Golbe added.
League leaders Plateau United will host Rangers International of Enugu in a Match Day 38 game of the Nigeria Professional Football League.
The Jos side will be crowned champions if they avoid defeat irrespective of the outcome of the game in Maiduguri between El-Kanemi Warriors and MFM of Lagos.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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