PILLARS, ENYIMBA GO FOR BROKE

By NBF News


Nigeria's flag bearers in this year's CAF Champions League, Enyimba International and Kano Pillars, look good to cruise to the second round of the preliminary stage of the competition this weekend.

Enyimba, gunning for its third title on the continent's most prestigious club competition, is up against St. Michel Ouenze of Congo DR at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, while Pillars host Mighty Barrolle of Liberia inside the main bowl of the Sani Abacha Stadium in the ancient city of Kano.

Both Nigerian teams began their campaign on brilliant notes, winning the first leg fixtures against their opponents. While Enyimba beat its Congolese counterpart 2-0 in faraway Brazzaville a fortnight ago, Pillars subdued its Liberian opponent 2-1 in Monrovia.

Speaking to Saturday Sunsports ahead of today's clash at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Pillars' Media Officer, Malikawa, boasted that his side would dump out the Liberian team from this year's contest despite the fact that Pillars would be playing without four of its key players who are among the home-based players jostling for shirts in the Super Eagles' squad to the US President's Cup.

'We'll be missing the services of four of our key players who are in the national team camp. But I can assure you that we shall still beat Mighty Barrolle of Liberia on Saturday (today),' Malikawa boasted.

The media officer banks on the tactical ability of new coach, Ladan Bosso for victory for his side.

'I have confidence in the ability of our new technical adviser, Ladan Bosso. As you know, he was the one that led the team to Liberia where we got an away victory. He also led the team to another away victory against JUTH FC in Kaduna and would have recorded a third away win against Ocean Boys but for the hostile atmosphere under which we played in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

'I really commend Coach Bosso for his brilliant record so far and I look forward to another victory from him today,' he said.

In Aba, Enyimba has very little to do tomorrow to zoom into the second round of the competition having to go into the match with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg clash a fortnight ago in Brazzaville. The Congolese would need to score three times without conceding any goal to progress to the second round at the expense of Enyimba.