A return to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) by Kwara state’s most supported football club excited lovers of the round leather game but a floppy performance which has attracted a change of coach and leaves them at the last position on the log with 18 points after same number of games may have dampened their morale.

However, Coach Abubakar Bala who lost his first game as Kwara United manager against Plateau United yesterday has declared that the club will finish in the top half of the table after 38 games. He said their target wasnt to escape relegation but to finish in the top half and the team would do everything to achieve it. Two goals in each half by Tosin Omoyele and a Raphael Ayagwa penalty sealed all three points for the champions who have conceded just one goal and haven’t lost a game at the New Jos stadium.

The visiting side looked ready for the game and gave it their all in the early minutes but influential Plateau United midfielder Raphael Ayagwa was always pressurising the Kwara United defence with his splitting passes to Tosin Omoyele and Benjamin Turba who seemed to know where and when they were coming.

The champions who are placed eight on the log will have the opportunity to go higher when they meet Katsina United who are currently second while Abubakar Bala and his men can begin their fight for the first half of the table when they meet the Baba Ganaru’s Yobe Desert Stars on Sunday. The PEACE BOYS will be playing in front of their home fans in Jos but the AFONJA WARRIORS have to make the six hours journey to Damaturu.

Writer: Segun Odunayo