1st July, 2011
Enyimba, who are fondly called Aba’s Elephants, travel to the North this weekend for their Week 30 Nigeria Premier League game, where the Desert Scorpions, Gombe United, lie in wait.
For the defending champions,, this trip poses a daunting challenge.
In six Premier League meetings at the Abubakar Umar Memorial Stadium, they have lost five and managed a single draw. The 1-1 draw in November of 2009.
Ahead of this match, they secured a 1-0 home win over Sharks FC of Port Harcourt.
Gombe United on the other hand, go into the weekend’s game on the back of a 3-0 victory over leaders, Sunshine Stars. Without a doubt, they could not have asked for a better confidence boost than such a demolition of the Akure-based Agagu Boys.
Enyimba are fifth on the table with 47 points while Gombe United occupy 12th spot with 38 points, but where both teams sit on the log would hardly matter when they slug it out in the searing heat of the north-eastern city on Sunday.
The People’s Elephants have had an unimpressive record away from home this season, but gaffer Okey Emodi is keen to change that. Whether this game against Gombe United will be the pivotal point in the side’s domestic campaign remains to be seen.
In the opposite fixture in January, Enyimba cruised to a 2-0 win, with Chidozie Johnson and Junior Osagie banging in the goals on either side of half time.
If they can replicate their remarkable home form by shutting up the back and being clinical upfront, it would not be impossible for them to enjoy their second win away from home, after their 1-2 triumph over Crown FC.
Gombe United are fierce opponents any day, but they lost two-nil at home to Kwara United and failed to beat Warri Wolves and Sharks, playing out a 1-1 and 0-0 draw, respectively.
Enyimba must go into the game with the confidence that they can continue their resurgence and push for the top. That a win is not impossible.
Emodi has got lots of options in attack to choose from. Leading goalscorer Victor Barnabas has recovered fully from his knee injury and Uche Kalu’s form continues to impress. Junior Osagie and Ifeanyi Ede are also waiting in the ranks, ready to do damage.
To keep things tight at the back, combative midfielder Chidozie Johnson has resumed training after battling with a knock on his right leg.
True, their adversary may be lying in the sands, waiting to strike. But its a match-up between Scorpions and Elephants. What chance have the scorpions got against such a massive and formidable opponent?