With anticipation building for the kick off of 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) this weekend, two newly promoted clubs from Lagos State Ikorodu United FC and MFM FC are prepared to pull their weight among the best clubs in the country.
Npfl.ng reports that Ikorodu United will have its first taste of Premier League football this season when they host Abia Warriors at Onikan Stadium on Sunday while MFM FC is away to Nasarawa United same day.
The clubs came from different backgrounds before gaining promotion to Nigeria’s elite league at the end of last season but they have brought back top league games and excitement to Lagos, the Center of Excellence, where football fanatics have missed premier league actions for over 22 years. Now the fans are chanting, ‘the League has come home’.
Ikorodu United FC, which was founded in December 2014 under the chairmanship of Adewunmi Ogunsanya, is among the few clubs that are privately-owned in Nigeria.
Belgian coach, Maurice Cooreman tutored Ikorodu United to secure promotion to the top flight after just a season in the Nigeria National League (NNL) but the tactician has since departed for Akwa United, leaving ex-international Edema Benson to carry on as Chief Coach.
In terms of playing staff, npfl.ng gathered that Ikorodu United management has confidently retained the bulk of the squad from last season including striker Francis Shedrack whose decisive goal in their last game against Ekiti United earned them a promotion ticket.
Youngsters such as defender Kabiru from 36 Lion FC, Ebiye who was signed from Bethel FC and the others offer further encouragement that the Ikorodu side seems well placed to survive in the Premier League.
Club boss Ogunsanya, while speaking on his club’s preparedness for the season, said Ikorodu United “is ready to surprise other participants of the professional football league”.
As part of plans to ensure the club performs well, the management has introduced some innovations to rebrand club football in the country. Already, GOtv Nigeria has joined as sponsor for the new season and the club is doing a lot in mechandizing and venue packaging as well.
“Top on our management’s plans is to woo back the Lagos spectators to come out and watch our games. We want to create an avenue where the stadium will be filled by 12 noon for a match scheduled for 4.00 pm.”
Coach Edema Benson is not the boastful type but the former international believes Ikorodu United will be a force to reckon with among the NPFL teams this season, considering their traditional style of keeping the ball, passing accuracy and scoring stunning goals.
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