EFFIONG’S RETURN MOTIVATES AKWA UTD AHEAD OF KATSINA CLASH
MFON PATRICK
Akwa United have recieved a major boost
ahead of their NPFL Matchday 4 fixture against Katsina United on Wednesday following the return of top striker Ndifreke Effiong from national team duties.
Effiong who was part of the Home based Eagles for CHAN and WAFU qualifiers as well as the Africa Under 23 Championship in Egypt, returned to the team’s camp in Uyo on Monday and took part in the team’s two training sessions ahead of the crucial tie against Katsina United.
The bulldozer striker scored seven goals for the Promise Keepers in last season’s abridged league following his arrival from Abia Warriors.
Effiong formed a solid partnership with last season’s joint top scorer Mfon Udoh and they netted 17 goals between them last season as Akwa United finished top of their group and qualified for the season ending play-offs in Lagos.
Effiong who is comfortable playing in any position in the attacking line has been selected alongside 17 others for the game.
Meanwhile, Head Coach John Obuh has said that his team is not under any form of pressure to perform despite their slow start to the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League season.
Obuh, whose team is yet to record a win after three rounds of matches will be hoping to put their slow start behind them and forge ahead for their first victory of the season when they square up against Katsina United on Wednesday at the magnificent Godswill Akpabio international stadium in Uyo by four O’clock in the afternoon.
With two draws and one defeat in their opening three matches, Akwa United is poised to prove a point on matchday 4 against Katsina United who picked their first win of the season on matchday 3 over Nasarawa United.
Coach Obuh told the club’s official website www.akwaunitedfc.net
that his team’s target is intact and that his boys are determined to get the job done.
“It’s is unfortunate that at the moment we have a paltry two points from a possible nine, but we are not distracted in any way because we know we still have 35 matches to play before the end of the season.
“As far as this season is concerned, I have only one thing in my mind: I want to have a good season with Akwa United and help the team win trophies. We have made lots of mistakes in our first three matches, I’m happy that we have spotted them out early and we will correct those mistakes in subsequent matches starting with the game against Katsina United on Wednesday.
“League football is a marathon so there is no need to panic because we still have enough time to get back into the mix and announce our intentions as far as the race for the NPFL title is concerned”.
The Promise Keepers won ten, drew one and lost one of their 12 league matches at home in last season’s abridged league, they will be hoping to continue their impressive home form when they engage Katsina United who have lost in all their previous three visits to Uyo.