NPFL: Gata Ready to Resume Race for Yekini Award

Published on: 04 June 2016

Niger Tornadoes leading goal scorer, Ismail Gata has said he has been re-energized by the two weeks break and is ready to resume the battle for the highest goals scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

The former Enyimba and Kwara United player ended the first stanza of the league on 9 goals but has insisted that he is ready to hit his target of 25 goals.

He told SHOT! that the series of matches he played during the first half of the league took a serious toil on him but now that he has rested for some days, he has recovered enough power to go back into the trenches.

Although his main rival has reached 13 goals, Gata said overtaking Godwin Obaje is very possible, if he has an injury free season.

"I want to assure my teeming fans that my eyes are firmly fixed on the target that I set for myself. I said I want to hit 25 goals this season and already I have scored 9.

"What is left now is just 16 goals which I hope to score now that I have rested a bit and recovered my lost energy.

"I know Godwin Obaje of Wikki is leading the chart but we are going to have a friendly war for the Highest Goal scorers Award. It is a friendly fight because he is my very good friend. I am happy with the way he is scoring his goals."

Gata also said he hopes that the referees will continue to provide a level playing field so that visiting clubs would not be 'duped' by home teams.

he said.

"Officiating in the first stanza was quite good and I just hope that it will continue in the second half. Once that is done, the league will produce a true champion of the league,".

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