Akwa United head coach Abdu Maikaba says he is keen to bring his players up to speed physically ahead of the commencement of the 2016-17 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
United beat Nigeria National League (NNL) Spartans 3-1 in a pre-season game in Uyo on Thursday with Cyril Olisema, Christian Pyagbara and Moses Ebiye plundering the goals for the ‘Promise Keepers’.
Maikaba says the most important objective he will be looking to achieve is getting his players in peak physical condition before their opening NPFL game of the season.
"This is our first match after the Christmas break and we still need to play another friendly to really assess our players.
“The most important thing is that all our players are fully fit and we know before the start of the league that we will do the little that is remaining to have a strong compact team," Maikaba said.
The tune-up game was Akwa United's first in pre-season since they returned from the Christmas break.
United will play another pre-season friendly on Saturday in Calabar.
Akwa United will open their 2016-17 NPFL campaign away to newly-promoted Ilorin-based club, ABS FC on 15 January.
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