Technical Adviser of modest NPFL side Yobe Desert Stars Ngozi Elechi has said the sole target of the club in the upcoming season is to avoid relegation from the top flight.

The Damaturu-based outfit have been placed in Group B of the abridged 2019 NPFL season alongside former champions Kano Pillars, Plateau United, Heartland, as well as his former side Go Round and 7 other teams.

“The target is just one – to keep the club in the NPFL,” the former Go Round coach disclosed.

He added: “You know when I resumed here (Damaturu), I came here because of some of the qualities the people saw in my former club (Go Round), and they said they like the way my former club played.

“They played good football and looked organised. And they want me to bring that Philosophy and that mentality to Yobe Desert Stars.”

Despite the departure of over a dozen players from the first team last season, Elechi remains optimistic that his young side with few experienced players have what it takes to achieve his target.

“When I came here I found out that almost 18 old players left the club. So the option I have now is just to build around new players in the team. And the boys have adapted.

“And I can tell you authoritatively that I was impressed with their performance in all the (pre-season) matches we played,” the vocal tactician stated.

The former Plateau United defender joined Yobe from Go Round after spending 8 seasons with the Omoku-based side. He also guided Go Round to the NPFL in 2017.