Between Sunshine Stars and Enyimba, the margin for error is slim as both are involved in the keenest title chase ever seen in the top flight in recent times, with just two points separating the two at the top now.
Sunshine Stars have enjoyed being on top for long since the league commenced in March but started showing signs of fatigue lately when six-time champions, Enyimba started sharing the top spot with them last month. And events that unfolded midweek, which saw Sunshine surprisingly lose 1-0 to Dolphins and Enyimba’s 1-0 triumph against the reigning champions, Kano Pillars, seem to have tipped the scale in favour of the marauding Aba Elephants.
The relentless Aba Elephants, with 45 points from 24 games, go into this weekend’s round of matches with a two point cushion over their Sunshine Stars, and appear set to consolidate on their summit position given that they host bottom side, Taraba FC on Sunday at their Enyimba International stadium slaughter ground.
And the twin fact that they have played second fiddle to Sunshine Stars for a long time, coupled with Kano Pillars’s three-years straight title conquest have fuelled the former two-time CAF Champions League winners to resolve not to give up their top spot any sooner.
Speaking on what appears to be a routine whitewash of Taraba FC, Enyimba’s celebrated coach, Kadiri Ikhana, who was not on the bench in the game against Pilllars because of a visit to his dentist, admitted that it was not easy toppling Sunshine Stars from the summit, vowing that he his side are not ready to relinquish their top spot now.
“It has been a very interesting season and we are aware that the drama is only just starting as we would now be the target of the other teams because of our status as the top side on the table. We are aware of the challenges that are ahead of us and would not give in to anything that will take us away from this place”, said Ikhana.
And the likelihood of Enyimba maintaining their summit place after this weekend’s round of games is high as they host hapless Taraba, who are rooted to the last position on the table. Though their opponents are flirting dangerously with relegation as they have a miserly 20 points from 24 matches played, Ikhana has urged his wards not to play their opponents with kids gloves, urging them to use the sledge hammer to break whatever resistance they want to pose in Aba.
And he is also aware that a drowning man fears no fall and would approach such games with higher intensity and greater desire, two factors which Ikhana is not unaware of, given that they were held to a 1-1 draw by 19th placed Bayelsa United in Oghara, Delta State at the last weekend.
“What happened against Bayelsa United showed that no team can be written off completely or played with kids gloves. We were expected to easily defeat Bayelsa United but ended up playing a 1-1 draw with them, which was a big surprise to our fans, who saw Bayelsa United as an easy team.
“But they forgot that it is always difficult and tricky beating a drowning man than one that is doing well. We expect Taraba to come with the same mindset of taking their chances against us but I am confident that my team will be decisive and get the three points that we want to remain on top”, added Ikhana, a former Champions League winner with Enyimba.
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