MFON PATRICK
Akwa United and Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) iconic striker Akarandut Orok has expressed confidence that the Promise Keepers will go all out on Monday afternoon to get a positive result when they engage Enugu Rangers on Match-day 22 of the 2020/2021 NPFL season in Uyo.
Orok who described his team’s excellent run of form in the league as the fruit of dedication, hard work and sacrifice from everyone at the club, says he and his teammates have been encouraged and motivated to maintain the current tempo and team spirit in all their remaining fixtures.
Orok in an exclusive pre-match interview with the club’s official website www.akwaunitedfc.com said he and his teammates are determined to fight for maximum points in all their games.
“Every time we prepare for a match, there is always positive feelings in and around our team, and it’s usually motivate us to go for victory in every match.
“Our game on Monday agianst Rangers is of huge importance and we are determined to approach the game with the same winning mentality, knowing very well that victory will keep us at the summit of the log.
“Our position on the log requires us to be more committed and focused. As a team, we have resolved to take it one game at a time and at the moment, our concentration is on our next game against Rangers on Monday.
“We know that Rangers is a good team, and considering the fact that we lost the first leg 1-0 in Enugu, we are going into this game with just one thing in mind; that is to come out victorious on Monday”.
Akarandut Orok was a second half substitute on matchday 21 victory over Dakkada FC and provided the assist for his team’s second goal which was scored by Charles Atshimene. Last season, Orok netted Six goals including the winning goal against Rangers in Enugu.
The Promise Keepers are top of the NPFL log on superior goal difference with 40 points from 21 games and they will be aiming to further extend their unbeaten run of form to twelve games.
Akwa United are undefeated in their previous eleven games having won seven and drew four of those encounters.
Coach Kennedy Boboye’s team have won eight of their ten home games with two draws so far this season and they have scored seventeen (17) goals at home and conceded just three (3).
Striker Charles Atshimene has been in a superb form in front of goal since the beginning of the second stanza of the season. Atshimene has scored three goals in two matches and will be seeking to add to his tally on Monday.
Having kept ten clean sheets in sixteen matches, goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka is fast emerging as the best pair of hands between the sticks in the league and is sure to retain his place on Monday.
Coach Boboye may likely stick with the bulk of the team that defeated Dakkada FC on Match-day 21 when they square up against Rangers who suffered a demoralizing defeat in Enugu to Rivers United last time out.
The Match-day 22 game which was originally fixed for Sunday 23rd was later rearranged by the league organisers LMC to take place on Monday 24th May 2021 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Nest of Champions and will be shown live on NPFL. TV to a global audience.
