‘D’-day as Sunshine, Dolphin fight for NPL title

In Kano, continental hopefuls, Kano Pillars will play host to Sunshine Stars, the club that is presently sitting on top of the log with 71 points and looking good to clinch this year’s league title. At Ilorin Township Stadium, Premier League debutants, Bukola Babes will host Dolphins, the club that needs a win to stand […]

In Kano, continental hopefuls, Kano Pillars will play host to Sunshine Stars, the club that is presently sitting on top of the log with 71 points and looking good to clinch this year’s league title.

At Ilorin Township Stadium, Premier League debutants, Bukola Babes will host Dolphins, the club that needs a win to stand any chance of beating Sunshine to the title.

The two fixtures are interesting because since the beginning of the season, Sunshine and Dolphins have ran neck to neck in a bid to win the ticket to represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Champions League.

However, the match at the Sani Abacha Stadium Kano is obviously the more interesting of the two key fixtures because both teams have so much to play for. Just as victory in Kano for Sunshine Stars would mean a continental ticket, Pillars also need a win to pick the Confederation Cup ticket.

Pillars on 62 need to win to stand any chance because their rivals, Warri Wolves already have 65 points which means they will be home and dry, if they are able to get even a draw against Tornadoes in Minna.

A win for Pillars and defeat for Wolves will tie the two clubs on points and goals difference would then be used to decide the better of the two.

Pillars opponents, Sunshine will have to win if they are to run away with the title at the expense of Dolphins who take on Bukola Babes in what many have tagged an easy ride to victory for the Port-Harcourt side.

Football analysts are of the opinion that Bukola will not threaten Dolphins chances as much as Pillars is going to do to Sunshine Stars.

A draw for Dolphins in Ilorin will mean the league champion would be decided on goals difference as the two contenders would end the season with 72 points each.

However, a victory for Dolphins and defeat for Sunshine Stars in Kano would end all permutations as Dolphins would have garnered 73 points against Sunshine’s 71, that is if the Akure side is beaten in Kano.

This is a case of photo finish to the season and officials of the Nigeria Premier League will have to be at the two venues to present the eventual winner with the trophy.

Meanwhile, in a chat with Feverpitch yesterday, Coach of Pillars, Ladan Bosso said he is approaching the game like any other match.

According to him, it will be counter-productive if he makes the players feel it is a do-or die affair.

The former Flying Eagles coach said what he has done is to explain to his players the importance of the match as he said a win would give them the opportunity of returning to continental football.

“I am not putting my players under any pressure. It is not a do- or- die affair but they have been told the importance of winning tomorrow’s (today) match. They want to play continental next season and the only way to achieving that is to beat Sunshine.

On his part, coach of Sunshine, Gbenga Ogunbote said today’s match is crucial but he will not be piling too much pressure on himself and the players.

“We are taking this match like any other that we have played. But this is not to say we are going to settle for anything less than victory. The management has played its part and the players are adequately motivated for the important match.

The coach said he is not waiting for the result in Ilorin to determine the fate of his club as far as continental ticket is concerned as he maintained that victory against Pillars is all he is aiming at.

“What concerns me at the moment is our match against Pillars. If we win in Kano, whatever happens elsewhere is of no consequence”, he stated.

It is interesting to note that whether Sunshine Stars or Dolphins, the winner of the longest league season in the history of world football would emerge away from home.