Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, Champions, Plateau United Football Club of Jos will face Akwa United of Uyo in a rescheduled fixture of the NPFL at the Goodswill Akpabio International stadium this Wednesday, without ten of its first team players.Nigeri
The peace boys, as they are fondly called by their admirers, will be facing the Abdullahi Maikaba-tutored side under-strength after the spate of injuries affecting the team continued last weekend.
First to limb out shortly after half time against Katsina United during the week 20 fixture was one of its influential midfielders, Raphael Ayagwa, who sustained a groin injury in the process of taking a shot and was slightly tripped by a desperate Katsina United defender.
Ayagwa, who only joined the team from North-Central rivals and current league leaders, Lobi Stars, at the beginning of the season has not been lucky with injuries as that has cost him a place in the home-based Super Eagles team to the Championship of African Nations CHAN in Morocco earlier this year.
According to the Club’s Media Officer, Albert Dakup, in a chat with sports journalists, “his absence was obviously missed during his team’s return leg of the CAF Champions League against Etoile Du Sahel of Tunisia in Kano after he picked another knock during an NPFL tie against Niger Tornadoes of Minna as he was sidelined for more than three weeks.
“Another player who will be missing the tie is former member of the World conquering Golden Eaglets team of 2007 led by the late Coach, Yemi Tella, King Osanga,” he added.
Osanga, who joined the defending NPFL Champions at the beginning of the season, has been one of the shinning light of the Jos-based side in the continental and NPFL campaign this season with his scintillating performances, including a superb goal against USM Algiers of Algeria in the CAF Confederations Cup played at the Agege Township Stadium, Lagos.
Albert maintained that, “The absence of the duo will leave a big void in Plateau United’s midfield which is already short of personnel following injuries to Benjamin Turba, Ibeh Johnson, Sunday Ngbede and long term absentees, Lazarus Fan and Charles Henlong who are yet to feature for the team this season”.
“Other players who are also out over injuries are goalkeeper, Dele Ajiboye, Hamisu Sale and Golbe Elisha, who did not feature in the team’s last fixture due to varying degrees of injuries they are nursing.
However, there is good news from the treatment table as most of them will be fit and available for selection during the weekend encounter against Nassarawa United FC as they keep hopes alive of retaining their league crown at the end of the season.
Albert further stated that despite the absence of the aforementioned first team players, the team is battle ready to give a good account of itself against their host Akwa United by ensuring that it comes back with a decent result.
Plateau United who are currently occupying the fifth spot on the league table still have another outstanding match against the Lobi Stars of Makurdi next week Wednesday.
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