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Nigeria Premier League (NPL) defending champions, Enyimba
International, alongside last season’s runners-up, Kano Pillars, are favourites
to win the 2010/2011 League season, which gets underway this Saturday, former Heartland
midfielder, Uchenna Agba, has said.

Agba, who now plays in the more lucrative Tunisian League with
CS Sfaxien, said the Peoples Elephants and Pillars are head and shoulders above
the other sides competing in this season’s competition.

He explained that the two clubs are the biggest in the country
at the moment and have the best players compared to the chasing pack.

“Enyimba and Kano Pillars are the teams I can say will win the
Nigerian league this season,” he said. “They have the best players and they
have always had the structures. That was evident from the way the two teams
played last season, which led to the title being decided on the last day before
Enyimba won it.”

The Tunisia-based player said he left out his former team from
the hot contenders for the title because they are undergoing a rebuilding
process under Samson Siasia and with a new management in place.

However, he still believes that since football throws up the
impossible in terms of results the Naze Millionaires could still pull a
surprise, though they are outsiders for the title.

“Heartland are still a good side but for now they are going
through a rebuilding period and that’s why I don’t think they might compete for
the title yet. But anything can happen in football and Heartland may still come
in and compete with Enyimba and Kano Pillars for the title. Like I said
earlier, Enyimba and Kano Pillars really look good for the title this season,”
Agba said.

League opener

Kano Pillars and Kaduna United are primed for the season’s opener
on Saturday as both teams have promised to give a good account of themselves in
the first game of the season.

Coach of Kaduna United, Maurice Coreman, said after his team
lost the Charity Shield to Enyimba over the weekend, his focus was on the game
with Kano Pillars and not the Charity Shield match.

Also, Chairman of Kano Pillars, Tukur Babangida, has promised
Kaduna United a tough battle this Saturday.

Babangida said that despite the limited time they had to prepare
for the new season; they will still give the Kaduna side a good fight for the
three points.

“I am very confident of my team this season. We may have lost
some players but we have capable replacements.

“We are going to Kaduna with the intention of getting the three
points at stake. We know Kaduna United is also preparing very well, but we are
equal to the task,” Babangida said.

Kano Pillars defeated Kaduna United in the same fixture last season with the
goal from former striker, Ahmed Musa.