With less than forty-eight hours before the highly anticipated cracker between Nasarawa United versus El-Kanemi Warriors at the El-Kanemi Stadium, Maiduguri, Borno State, Chairman of Nasarawa United FC, Dr. Othman Ibrahim Ahmed has urged his wards to leave nothing to chance as they push for their return to the elite domestic football league in Nigeria.
The Chairman gave the charge shortly after the last training session for the team on Friday evening in Maiduguri, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
In his words, "We are all aware of what we need in the situation we find ourselves today and there is absolutely no room for complacency, un-seriousness or respect for the hosts".
"We are currently topping the chart but that's not enough as there are still many games ahead".
"Let's consolidate on our last game against Mighty Jets and get back home with something positive from this scene. This isn't unachievable as we are not new to meeting our targets".
"Go into tomorrow's match as if it's the determinant of your passage to the top-flight division".
"We have everyone at home behind us - the governor, the government, the supporters, the fans, just name them. So, we can't afford to disappoint them, please", he added.
Also adding his voice, Team Manager, Solomon Babanjah boosted the morale of the players by exhorting them to forget previous statistics between the two teams noting that "statistics are important but don't have effect in the game of sports as what matters is a team's current achievement when put under test."
He told the players to remain focused and never be deterred heading into the epic game.
The Nigeria National League match-day four clash comes with so much thrills and talking points as it is the meeting of two immediate past teams in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The Solid Miners currently top the nine-team Group C log with seven points, whereas their hosts on Saturday, El-Kanemi Warriors, are in 4th position with three points lesser, though United have played a game more.
Both teams are yet to lose any game this campaign, with United on a three-match unbeaten streak, winning two and drawing one, whereas El-Kanemi are on two, winning once and drawing one, and both teams are on the verge of headlining the Group's table.
The explosive El-Kanemi versus United's game comes up by 4pm, on Saturday, 9th December, 2023.
By Olaleye Oluwadamilola