Woo! Nigeria
Premier League (NPL) has finally kicked off on Saturday February 9, 2013. After
two or three postponement due to so many rancor and lack of fund, nobody was sure
when the league will start again.
Cheer on Nigeria
publishers went online to get fans attention by asking them to rank Nigerian football
clubs based on their recent performances. And the result we got from the polls was
interesting.
It wasn't only
fans though, coaches, players and journalists across the country were among the
500 people that voted. And they used different criteria to rank the teams. I'll
share with you here the top six clubs that got most of the votes.
Enyimba FC of
Aba (1976): Surprisingly, Enyimba came tops with 108/500 votes.
Well, I felt
it was a surprise because the 'Aba Warriors' finished the last two seasons without
a trophy. Enyimba finished 4th on the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) table and only
got to the semi finals of the Federation (FA) cup last season.
Perhaps, past
performance of the club who play home games at the 18000 capacity Enyimba International
Stadium may have been the reason they got the people's vote.
Enyimba is considered
the most successful football club in Nigeria, being the only team that has won CAF
champions League and African Super Cup for Nigeria, back to back in 2003 and 2004 editions.
Let us view the
major achievements of the club:
- Won Caf Champions league 2 times - 2003, 2004.
- Won African Super Cup 2 times - 2003, 2004.
- Won NPL 6 times - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010.
- Won Nigeria FA cup 2 times - 2005, 2009.
Kano Pillars
FC of Kano (1990): The kadiri Ikhana tutored Kano Pillars was ranked 2nd with 86/500
votes.
The club's performance
has been on a steady rise since 2008. The 'Madu Gid' won NPL last season 2012 and
did so well at the recently concluded Super Four.
Kano Pillars
play home games at the 18000 capacity Sani Abacha stadium. The team is participating
again in Caf champions league after their first experience last season 2012.
Let us view the
club's major achievements:
- Won NPL 2times - 2008, 2012.
Heartland FC
of Owerri (1976): The Dutchman, Lodewijk Krulf managed Heartland, was ranked 3rd
with 81/500 votes.
Though, the 'Naze
millionaires' finished 8th on NPL table, but the team is gradually becoming masters
of FA cup. They won the tournament back to back in the last 2011 and 2012 editions.
Heartland who
play home games at the 16000 capacity Dan Anyiam stadium, also won the recently
concluded Super Four.
Let us view the Club's major achievements:
- Won NPL 5 times - 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993.
- Won Nigeria FA Cup 3 times - 1988, 2011, 2012.
- Won Super Cup -2013.
Lobi Stars FC
of Makurdi (1981): The John Zaki and Garba Lawal tutored Lobi Stars was ranked 4th
with 56/500 votes.
The 'Suswan boys'
who play a free flowing style of football are so exciting to watch at home ground,
Aper Aku stadium.
Lobi finished
3rd on NPL table and was the runner up of FA cup last season. The team will be participating
in the 2013 Caf cup.
Let us view the club's major achievements:
- Won NPL - 1999.
- Won Nigeria FA Cup - 2003
- Won Super Cup - 1999.
Rangers International
FC of Enugu (1970): The Felix Okey Emordi tutored Enugu Rangers was ranked 5th with
48/500 votes.
'The Flying Antelopes'
last season performance was phenomenal. Most of the season, Enugu Rangers was placed
first on the league table, but ended up 2nd due to some boardroom points awarded
to Kano Pillars.
Enugu Rangers
has a very rich football heritage with such an intimidating support at their massive
home ground, a 30,000 capacity Nnamdi Azikwe stadium.
Let us view the Club's major achievements:
- Won NPL 6 times - 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984.
- Won Nigeria FA cup 5 times - 1974, 1976, 1981, 1983.
Sunshine Stars
of Akure (1998): The Solomon Ogbeide coached Sunshine Stars was closely ranked 6th
with 47/500 votes.
'The Agagu' as
the team is fondly called by fans, are pulling so much weight recently. Sunshine
Stars got up to the semi finals of Caf Champions League and finished 5th on the
NPL table last season. You cannot help but to admire the Mike Idoko managed team
at the 14000 capacity Akure Township stadium, with their tip-tap brand of football.
Let us view the
club's major achievements:
- Won national division one league 2times - 2001, 2007.
