Nigeria Content Online

Current
League leaders, Dolphin FC, will face a stern test this weekend when
they confront local rivals, Sharks FC, in the star fixture of the
Nigeria Premier League, which enters the third week this weekend.

The game is billed
for the Sharks FC Stadium, and is one of the three games that would be
shown live on Super Sport 9. Games between the two sides have always
attracted sentiments from football fans in the Garden City who have
their loyalty divided between both sides. Currently, Dolphins have a
perfect record of two wins from two games, while Sharks though unbeaten
have two points from the two games played so far. Stanley Eguma,
Dolphins manager, says it will be a game like any other game but his
side will be careful against their city neighbours. “First we thank God
that we go into that game at the top of the table with six points from
two matches,” he said. “We also know that games against Sharks are
always difficult games and we will be careful but not concentrate too
much because eventually it is a game like another we will play in the
League this season.”

Anything can happen

“The season is
still early and anything can happen,” he said. “We are still trying our
best to gel as a team and soon our fans will really get the best out of
us.” Meanwhile, Sharks media officer, Confidence Idaa, believes his
side now know how to beat Dolphins. “Whatever happened in previous
seasons will count for nothing now,” he said. “We are in a new season
and we have started well. We will beat Dolphins on Saturday.” Idaa said.

Last season in the derby, Dolphins and Sharks ended it 1-1 at the
Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium; and at the Sharks Stadium, it was a
dramatic goalless draw with Sharks failing to score twice from the
penalty spot. NPL chairman, Davidson Owumi, has also said the league
will be keeping a close watch on the match to avoid any sort of
violence. “We will be keeping a close watch on the match and we will
not hesitate to apply stiff sanctions on anybody who is found to have
acted in a way that brings the game into disrepute,” he said. “So we
urge both teams to control both their players and their supporters and
give Nigerians and the rest of Africa a fantastic derby game that we
can be proud of, and may the better side win.”