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Still
keeping the faith that his team will eventually be crowned champions
for this season, Gbenga Odubote will lead Sunshine stars of Akure
against Kano Pillars in the today’s biggest fixture in the Nigerian
Premier League.

Sunshine are
currently placed second on the log behind leaders, Dolphins FC but have
remained invincible at their adopted home ground at the Gateway
Stadium, Abeokuta.

Sunshine who were
2-0 winners in their last home game against Ocean Boys had two of its
players; Ibrahim Ajani and Sunday Abe named in the Nigeria Premier
League team of the week.

Ajani incidentally
is one of league’s joint top scorers alongside Super Eagles attacking
pearl, Ekigho Ehiosun with seven goals and he says he his hungry for
more goals. He is also hoping to increase his tally today against
visiting Pillars.

“Kano Pillars is a
big team and I know that they will give us a good fight but we are also
ready for them, I hope to score in the game to give my team victory and
increase my goal tally,” said the former Dolphins of Port-Harcourt
hit-man.

Ajani added that
though he respected the other strikers in contention for the season’s
highest goal scorers award, he sees himself winning the prized award at
the end of the season.

“I respect all the
other strikers but I think I have the edge because Ehiosun is always
with the National team and Ezeji has won the award before so I am
hungrier.”

Sunshine Stars are
the highest scoring team in the league with 20 goals in 15 matches and
in the corresponding fixture last season they beat Pillars 2-1.

Meanwhile, Ladan
Bosso, Pillars’ new coach will want to continue the impressive start
with his team which has seen him win three out of the four games which
he has handled.

The team is
currently eighth on the log with a game in hand and Bosso said he will
like to shame those who felt he was not good for his current job.

Bosso, who was
coach of the U-20 national team to the FIFA World Cup in Canada in 2007
said, “Pillars former coach Salisu Yusuf knows what I can do that is
why he facilitated my coming in, I have to justify the confidence the
entire management reposed in me.” The former Tornadoes coach is happy
to be working in a conducive atmosphere and believes things can only
get better.

“Pillars have been consistent in the Premier League, the management is committed and they also have the best fans in Nigeria.

“Their position at
the moment is not good but I assure you in the next few matches the
position will improve. That is my mission to Pillars,” Bosso concluded.

Other matches

Warri Wolves
defender and captain, Ike Thankgod should make a return to first team
action against Niger Tornadoes at the Warri City Stadium today.

Thankgod has not played since January 30 when he got injured in the game against Rangers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

“My ankle was sprained and badly swollen,” Thankgod said about his time on the sidelines.

“I missed some
games but I have commenced training and the Doctors say I can play our
next game (against Niger Tornadoes) on Sunday,” he told SuperSport.com.

Wolves are unbeaten in their last six games and sit third on the NPremier League log with 26 points from 15 matches.

Shooting Stars are
also in Makurdi to face Lobi Stars. The Oluyole Warriors will be hoping
for a change in fortunes as the team has been awful on the road,
getting just one point in their away games so far this season.

Aside the absence
of Gbolahan Salami, whose ban is being appealed, 3SC will also missing
the services of three of its players — Laide Okanlawon and Raheem
Owolabi who are in the U-23 camp and veteran Kabir Alausa, whose mother
died on Wednesday in Lagos.

In Owerri,
Heartland will be home to Plateau United, who only recently suspended
their technical crew led by Ndubisi Nduka. The man, who took over,
Bitrus Bewerang, will be cursing his luck for the tough opposition he
has to surmount as he begins his regime. Though Bewerang has a mandate
to help bring the Jos team out of relegation waters, the chances of
getting a point from this game remain very slim.

It will be a
northern affair in Kaduna as Kaduna United play host to Gombe United at
the Kaduna Township stadium. The Crocodiles, who formerly had the
record of scoring in every other league games aside the 0-0 draw with
Plateau United, will hope to move up the league table with a victory in
today’s game.

The last fixture for the week pitches resurgent Ocean Boys against
relegation threatened Zamfara United. Ocean Boys got maximum points in
their last three home fixtures scoring seven goals and conceding once.
While the Yenogoa-based team currently leads the other half of the
table in 11th position, an anticipated victory in today’s game will
considerably improve the team’s fortunes.