MIGHTY JETS VS KOGI UTD: Jatau expects ‘special feeling’ against former club

FOR Head Coach of Kogi United FC, Ishaya Jatau it will always be a mixed feelings facing former club, Mighty Jets in the Nigeria National League, NNL Week Two fixture billed for Jos this weekend.

The former Inwanyanwu Nationale (Now Heartland) FC striker played for Mighty Jets between 1987 and '88, emerged as the club's top scorer and won the state FA Cup for Jets.

He would later returned to coach one of the oldest clubs in the Country in 2012/13 league season but was asked to leave unexpectedly even when the club was tipped to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Now in charge of the Confluence State club, Jatau will go into that game billed for Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos with high hopes of getting a meaningful result from the match and reconnect with his old time football families in Jos.

While admitting that he still has emotional attachment to Jets as a result of his achievements as a player and coach, the Kaduna born coach said it will be all about getting the job done for Kogi United on Saturday.

"It’s a special feelings playing against Mighty Jets as a coach, a club I enjoyed playing for and also love my moment here as a coach, even though I was not happy the way I left in 2012, there's no way I wouldn't have emotions with them, begins Jatau.

"But this is football business, my heart and allegiance is now with Kogi United and that's what will be my thoughts on Saturday as we hope to get something from the match," he said.

Coach Jatau has decided to select almost the same Kogi United team that won their first league match against Shekarau Babes for the Jos' duel with few fresh injections.

While the maiden club's Player of the Month, goalkeeper Shola Sheshere kept his place in the team, there was no place for Detan Ogundare who was in goal aganist Shekarau Babes as Jatau Joseph was favored as the other keeper.

Coach Jatau made only one change in defense with left back Adams Tijani (Makavelli) making the team ahead of Sanusi Pedro as other regulars like Stephen Musa, club captain Afolabi Abiodun and Iko James retained their places.

New father in the team, Sanni Idris Aloma whose wife delivered a bouncing baby girl fortnight ago was available for selection as there's still place for influential Mayaki Ismail.

There's expected to be league debut for new arrivals like Timothy Bello and Umar Bawah in attack as John Jerome favored again for the weekend encounter.