Three things are sure in life – death, tax (apart for Barcelona players) and home wins in the Nigerian Professional Football League. Though, away wins have not been as scarce as they used to be in some years past, the lack of it for some weeks now is a source for concern. Notwithstanding, the NPFL continues to throw up interesting narratives week-in week-out. We also had the second hat-trick of the season at the weekend, Plateau United’s Reuben Bala scored it against ABS. Here, the talking points from week 15.
Plateau United return to the top
MFM f.c. won an outstanding match in mid-week to go top of the table ahead of Plateau United who have been leaders for most of the season and it took the Solid Miners just four days to return to the top of the table. They did it in emphatic fashion, defeating ABS 4-1. While you will ordinarily not expect Plateau United to win the league, stranger things have happened, Ocean Boys once won the league. The manner of their win also suggest that there is a sense of entitlement from the Solid Miners, they knew a win will most likely take them top and they did it with aplomb. The more they stay top, the more they believe and like they say “this is football, anything can happen”.
Abia Warriors slow and steady rise
Even though they have become more synonymous with their cassava farm pitch, something is presently going right for the Umuahia based side. They started the season in impressive fashion, picking a win against champions – Rangers in Enugu. Then results started going bad, including dropping points at home against Enyimba, Sunshine Stars and El-Kanemi, losing to the later. But they have gotten their season back on track with little or no attention on them, unbeaten in their last five matches. Their 3-0 win against in-form Kano Pillars at the weekend takes them up to sixth on 22 points, same as their local rivals – Enyimba.
Rangers continue to plummet
Few months ago, it looked all rosy, Rangers won their first league title in 32 years. Since then it has been downward spiral for the champions. First, they did their trophy parade with a ‘gbongboro’ bus even cows will reject a ride in, then they went on excursion in the CAF Champions League, eventually getting knocked out. Their form in the league has been bad and they are at the foot of the table in 20th position. They have three games in hand but there is no guarantee they can win all and if they even manage to do the unthinkable, the highest they can climb is mid-table. Safe to say Rangers are already ruled out of the title race. More worrying for them is that all the feel good factor from last season is gone. The earlier they stem this tide, the better, Bayelsa United won the league just as recent as 2009 and got relegated the following season, they have been in the doldrums since then.
Home teams dominance
All home teams won this weekend with the exception of Akwa United who dropped points at home against Ifeanyi Ubah in the only game on television. While we can not certainly say the win-at-home-at-all-cost syndrome is back, the number of penalties across the venues raises lots of suspicions. Once again highlighting the need to have more matches on television. The home teams dominance becomes more disturbing because we are not in the second half of the season yet when teams become more desperate at home. This should be a source of worry for the League Management Committee and they should take urgent steps to make sure nothing fishy is happening.
The post Plateau United return to the top of the table, the search for another away win continues and other talking points from NPFL week 15 appeared first on Soccer Nation.
via GET Sportonline
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