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By Abiodun Adewale.
With results not yet encouraging for either sides, 3SC and Nasarawa United clash in one of the match-day six encounters of the 2022/23 NPFL season in Ibadan on Sunday (today).
Time is ticking for the technical crew and management of Nasarawa United. After five games in the NPFL this season, they remain winless with only one point and sit bottom of their group.
After their 3-0 thrashing at home in the hands of Akwa United on match-day three, the Nasarawa State Sports Ministry issued a three-game ultimatum for the technical crew and management to turn things around, but since then, the only thing that has changed is the relocation of their home ground from the New Jos Stadium to the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.
The Kaduna adventure didn’t start well too on match-day five as they were beaten 2-1 at home by their former landlords, Plateau United.
If the last game in the ultimatum would change things, then Nasarawa United must dig deep against the battle-hardened Shooting Stars, who are also desperate for their second win this season.
While coach Abubakar Arikya seem to have no clue about what the team’s problem is, he is however optimistic that their fortunes might change in Ibadan on Sunday (today).
“The result may change there, we can go there and get something against the expectations,” Arikya said after the home defeat to Plateau on Wednesday.
Although, 3SC’s situation isn’t as bad as their visitors, coach Gbenga Ogunbote and his players however, must also win to better their lots in the tough Group A where they are currently 7th on the table with five points.
Following a frustrating run in the first three games, 3SC’s only win so far was a 1-0 victory over El-Kanemi on match-day four and that momentum was halted in Gombe in mid-week when they lost 2-1.
With both managers on the edge, things could go from bad to worse for Ogunbote and if he avoids it, Arikya might be on his way out of Nasarawa’s job.