Dakkada International FC is turning out the big revelation of the 2019/20 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season in their debut outing in the elite cadre.
They have achieved results that have stunned their more illustrious opponents after nine MatchDays. The club that evolved from Akwa Starlets through a name change is hanging on to the second spot behind leaders, Plateau United.
After picking a point from the goalless draw on MatchDay 9 against Katsina United on Wednesday at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Coach Caleb Esu is confident that the best is yet to come from the Dakkada squad, claiming that his players were nurtured from a background of quality ideas.
He stated that the crop of players who battled to earn a promotion ticket for the team, graduated with him into a bigger class today, describing their initial style of play as being intact, hence the drive to succeed is still very much in their circle.
“You can see the level of playing we adopted on the evening by launching a counter-attack on our opponent, each time they lost possession in the build-up to their own offensive. It shows we have a pattern and the knowledge of which was exhibited on the turf.
“I want to commend the mentality of my players for being focused all through the entire duration of the game. They adhere to instructions each time we played and that paid off eventually though we wasted some glaring chances which would have killed the game, overall I am happy with the result”.
Dakkada trails league leaders Plateau United by two points, having amassed 16 points from nine games played so far. They have won four and drawn four, with their only loss a 1-2 at home to former champions Kano Pillars.
Ahead of their home fixture to neighbors, Akwa United on Sunday, Esu believes that a local derby is always a tough game that requires a positive approach and played down suggestions of rivalry that potentially could raise tension between the supporters of the two Uyo-based sides.
“It is not a do or die affair, though it is also vital that we give it our best shot because every game is important if you truly want to achieve something great” Esu noted.