Akwa United will look to put their opening day defeat to El-Kanemi Warriors in Uyo behind them as they target their first win of the season on Sunday against Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
Coach Rafael Everton has included Cameroonian goalkeeper Jean Efala, Ivorian defender Blaise Adou, Jamiu Alimi, Markson Ojobo, Etboy Akpan, Forwards Barnabas Imenger and Paul Obata in the eighteen man squad that will prosecute the Matchday 3 fixture in Kano.
‘The Promise Keepers’ who are 11th in Group B of the abridged league format were not in action on Matchday 2 due to the postponement of their away tie against newly promoted side Gombe United in midweek.
Meanwhile, Kano Pillars who won their first match against Heartland, however, lost 2-1 in their second game of the season El-Kanemi Warriors and are on three points after two rounds of matches.
On his team preparations ahead of the game in Kano, Coach Everton told the club’s official website www.akwaunitedfc.net that his team is determined to pick a positive result in Kano.
“Our defeat against El Kanemi Warriors on the opening day of the season was a wakeup call and we have to pick ourselves up and focus on getting a positive result in Kano on Sunday.
“It was a match we should have won but it wasn’t to be. We have put that result behind us and our attention is on Sunday’s match against Pillars. El-Kanemi and Go Round have recorded away victories while some other teams have picked points on the road, so, we strongly believe that we can also win away from home.
“The boys are aware of the importance of this match, they need to redeem their image by giving the fans something to cheer about. My boys have been well motivated ahead of the task before us, and I believe that they will make the fans proud”.
In the last seventeen meetings between the two sides, Kano Pillars have recorded 9 victories, the Promise Keepers picked up 6 wins while 2 of those fixtures ended in stalemate.
But the Uyo based side will go into the match with full confidence having won three of their last four matches against their northern opponents.
