LAGOS – Nasarawa United FC of Lafia, one of the rising teams in the Glo Premier League appears to be the team to beat, when they confront the Heartland FC of Owerri in one of the star matches of week three of the 2014/2015 season.
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The match, scheduled for the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, on March 22 would be expected to be as tough and interesting as many pundits have predicted, based on their previous encounters.
Although, Sunday’s match would be their first match of the season, however, in previous encounters, Nasarawa appears to have had the upper hand.
In their last eight encounters in the past two seasons – the 2012/2013 and the 2013/2014 — Nasarawa had drawn three, lost two and won in four previous encounters.
Heartland on the other hand had lost two, drawn two and won four.
In the immediate past 2013/2014 season, Heartland and Nasarawa played a goalless encounter in Owerri but at home in Lafia, United rose to the occasion, defeating Heartland, 1-0.
However, Heartland, under a new Technical Director, Onuh Olotta, has assured fans of the `Naze Millionaires’ as Heartland are known that they would have a home victory.
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He adds that even though he acknowledges that Nasarawa was one of the top four teams in the last season, “we will try to correct the flaws noticed in our match against the Shooting Stars, which they won 2-1, before we play against Nasarawa Utd.
“I want a team I can be sure of, a team that will follow my instructions,’’ Olotta vowed.
Both teams look forward to win in the tie as it would boost their morale as the league was still in its early stages.
Baba Ganaru, Coach of Nasarawa said he would also be looking forward to an away win at Owerri,, having failed to achieve an outright victory against Heartland in Owerri in any of their previous encounters.
Nasarrawa Utd needs to win the match because of their loss to El-kanemi Warriors, 0-1, during the season’s opener.
The team again defeated Wikki Tourist, 2-0 at home in week two of the season.
The Heartland/Kano Pillars match was postponed because of Pillars exposure to a robbery attack on their way to Owerri for the week one game. Therefore, Pillars and Heartland did not test themselves for size.
However, when all would be set for the Sunday match, previous results would obviously not count; at best, they are mere reference points, as only the eventual result would be reckoned with.
In other matches on Saturday and Sunday, Enyimba of Aba will play Bayelsa Utd at home and Taraba FC will face Lobi stars at home, while Akwa United seeks an away win over Sharks FC in Port Harcourt.
Enugu Rangers plays Ifeanyi Uba (former Gabros) at home, Giwa of Jos would host Sunshine Stars of Akure, while Dolphins plays Warri Wolves in Port Harcourt.
Abia Warriors also face El Kanemi Warriors away and Wikki Tourist play Kwara United at home. (NAN)
