THE City of Akure is brimming with lot of excitements
ahead of Sunday's Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match between
Sunshine Stars FC and Lobi Stars FC as the 2016/17 Apex league resumes after a
month break following conclusion of 19 round of matches in the First Stanza.
The week 20 clash between these two traditionally strong
sides in the NPFL has been dubbed the battle of the familiar foes giving the
movement of players, coach and administrator between the sides. The vice
chairman of Lobi Stars, Mike Idoko had in the past functioned in administrative
capacity for the home side as Solomon Ogbeide lead the Ortom boys against his
most recent former employers. No fewer than 5 former players of Sunshine Stars
are now in the book of Lobi with Samad Quadri the most recent player to leave Akure
for the Food Basket of the Nation capital.
The spotlight is on former Super Eagles player, Austin
Eguavoen who has so far had a perfect record since replacing Kayode Olujohungbe
as coach of Sunshine Stars. The former Super Eagles coach recorded a 2-0 resounding
victory over champions, Enugu Rangers in his first and only league outing with
the side so far, and won the Ondo FA Cup without blemish with his side scoring
three goals in two matches without conceding against Peacemakers and Moyero FC
respectively. However all the recent achievements of the Sapele born tactician
have been replaced with huge expectations of not just survival going into the
final half of the season.
Good outing against Lobi Stars will surely lay a good
marker for the rest of the season for him and his team that has seen a lot of
changes in playing personnel during the mid season break. The return of academy
alumnus, Dayo Ojo and capture of highly rated Beninese defender, Rock Thuram
from Curepipe Starlight SC of Mauritius headlined a busy mid season transfer
window which also facilitated the return of another academy graduate, Seun
Olulayo and 6 other players while 4 players exited the Akure based side with 5
players drafted to the feeders team.
It is also believed that Lobi Stars were active in the
mid season transfer, though the details of their transfer dealings have not
been made known officially.
It is a game with much stake for both teams as Eguavoen's
side will obviously play for maximum points to climb up the NPFL ladder while
his Edo State brother, Ogbeide seeks to do the double over his former team as
his team will dare to build on gains in the first half of the season. Tony
Okpotu's hattrick against his former team settled the first meeting between
these two sides on the last game of the First Stanza in Makurdi.
The Ondo State Sports Complex (Sunny Arena) will be
surely packed with thousands of fans to create an electrifying but peaceful
atmosphere amidst warm receptions for former employers of Sunshine Stars now
with the away side.
A highly explosive game is in the offing in this tie
Sunshine Stars FC won 1-0 last season.
Credit: Chris Okunnuwa, Media Officer; Sunshine Stars FC
PHOTO: LMC
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