Nigeria premier league race will be a photo-finish

The Coach of Kano Pillars FC, Baba Ganaru, on Thursday said that his team would continue to strive for the Nigerian Premier League (NPL) title until the final day of the 2011/2012 season.

Pillars are in second position on the league table, but level on 61 points with Rangers International FC, who occupy the first position on goals difference.

Ganaru said that with Rangers winning 3-0 in their rescheduled match against Sunshine Stars of Akure on Wednesday in Enugu, the title would not come easy for either side.

“Rangers winning their match makes the race even more difficult and I believe whoever will emerge winner will be known after the last league matches of the season,” he said.

According to the coach, their plan is to ensure they win the last two matches left and score as many goals as possible and hope that Rangers would slip.

He noted that Rangers were a good side and did not expect his team to topple them easily, but added that anything was possible.

“What we are trying to do is to ensure that we play our own part by winning our final two league games and hope that Rangers would slip somewhere.

“They are a good side and they currently occupy the top position, but we are determined to fight till the end because we believe anything is possible,” he said.

Ganaru added that his club’s ambition was to contend for honours in the Federation Cup and the league title.

“Our ambition is to win the league and the Federation Cup and we are still on course to achieve our target because we are in the semi-finals.

“We know it will be difficult, but we are hopeful that if we can work on our technical and tactical discipline effectively, we will excel,” Ganaru said.

NAN reports that a difference of two goals separates Rangers from Pillars, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi is third with a point separating them from the top two.