Yemi Sodeeq
No doubt, the Harmony boys have responded to the pressing need of bolstering their squad ahead of the new football season. And after all series of postponment,the team will be on course this Sunday in the match day 1 of 2020/2021 NPFL season against Plateau United.
In a deliberate move to strengthen the team, the management had shaken up the transfer market by bringing players of note and experience to their camp.
Source claimed that the team signed a total number of 15 players- giving that each position of the squad has not less than two players in it’s stead.
Among the new recruits are the the former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba, former Sunshine Stars FC, Jide Fatokun ,former MFM FC Striker, Lateef Abiola with Micheal Ohanu and Afeez Nosiru who are making a return to the club .
However, the influx of new players has also placed a lot of expectations on the club to justify the government backed intervention.
While the team was defeated by their arch rival ,ABS Ilorin FC in the semi-final of the Ogunjobi pre-season tournament on penalties, they also narrowly fell to Lobi Stars FC by 1 nil in the Dapo Abiodun’s pre-season tournament with their eye on the final.
Now seemingly preoccupied by the need to flatten the curve of the last season debacle where they escaped relegation due to Covid-19 enforced cancellation of the league, here comes a litmus test for the Coach Abdullahi Biffo led side to bring out the best of his new set up.
Subjecting the team to a clinical dissection, the structural adjustments in the team has to be harmonised- blending the new and old players is a systematic undertaking that needs to be commissioned given the roll call of high profile legs.
Kwara United will be missing the service of their Brazilian import, Lucas Ribiero Alves who didn’t travel with the team for an undisclosed reasons.
Practically,the team had to deal with the nightmare of goalscoring last season and with the new set of edge-cutter signed, many hope there would be a resonating turn around. But,would this be possible against a wounded Plateau United ?
Plateau United are still reeling from their defeat in CAF champions league.
The Abdu Maikaba tutored side drew 0-0 at the Benjamin Mkapa national stadium in Dar-es-Salam against the Tanzanian side in the second leg fixture after the first leg saw them losing 1-0 on home soil in Jos.
Clatus Chama’s goal in Jos was enough to put the Tanzania outfit into the next round as the star- studded Plateau United will now have to face the domestic league with all their might.
They will have to face a reinforced and rejuvenated Kwara United as their first taste of the new season.
As Kwara United will now be looking forward to repeat what Simba SC had done, Plateau United would also be ready to avoid any further provocation in their camp.
The encounter tomorrow is a big test for the two teams and will definitely not be a boredom to watch as they tend to make a perfect start for their teeming fans.
