By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos – Lagos-based MFM FC striker; Stephen Odey has assured the club’s fans of the team sustaining their winning streak when they face Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) boys in Ilorin on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that MFM have a date with the Afonja Warrriors on Match Day 7 of the Nigeria Professional
Football League (NPFL) at the Ilorin Township Stadium.
The crunch match earlier scheduled for Wednesday was, however, shifted to Thursday by the League Management Company (LMC) in a memo communicated to both teams.
The letter titled “Change of Match Date (ABS FC vs MFM FC) was signed by the Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Salihu Abubakar.
MFM have an impressive start to their 2016/2017 NPFL campaign with a 3-0 whitewash of Niger Tonardoes after which they suffered a 4-0
bashing from FC IfeanyiUbah in Nnewi.
The Olukoya Boys were able to put on the rythmn in the Match Day 3 when they ran routed visiting Lobi Stars 4-0 at their soccer temple in Agege.
The Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored-side also earned a point away against 3SC of Ibadan in the first South-West derby; after which they dispatched
Sunshine Stars 1-0 in Akure.
ABS is starting a new life in the premier league after gaining promotion from the Nigeria National League (NNL) last year after being bought over by former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki.
The former JUTH FC, however, started their campaign in the elite division on a promising note with a 3-1 win over Abdul Makaiba-tutored
Akwa-United in the Match Day 1 encounter.
The Henry Makinwa-tutored side got its first away point in the Match Day 2 encounter against Niger Tornadoes 1-1 and moved on to beat FC IfeanyiUbah 1-0 in Ilorin.
The Afonja warriors tasted its first defeat when they were thrashed by Lobi Stars 3-0 at the Aper Aku Stadium in Markudi.
Redeeming its image, ABS beat 3SC 2-0 in Ilorin to maintain their 100 per cent home records. They, however, suffered the second defeat in
the hands of Kano Pillars 0-1 in the Match Day 5.
For the match against ABS, MFM’s in form Odey assured the club’s fan that the match in Ilorin would not end in disappointment for the team.
“We will sustain our wining mentality; we are capable of doing this because we believe in our abilities.
“We want our fans to pray for our success in Ilorin because we want to make them happy with our winning.
“We are not afraid of any team for now, we just want to play the game and make a statement of our abilities on the field of play,’’ he said.
Also, MFM’s Media Officer, Olawale Quadri, said the team now had a blend of midfield players that have good understanding among them.
“The operating three factors, Chukwuma Onuwa, Stephen Odey and Sikiru Olatunbosun is the reason behind the team’s fine form.
“We need to praise their efforts,’’ he said.
NAN reports that MFM is second on the NPFL log with 13 points from six matches. It won four, drew one and lost one.
ABS on its part is fourth on the log with 10 points from six matches. It won three, drew one and lost two.