Plateau United Football Club of Jos has departed the tin city to honour its first leg, preliminary round match of the 2022/2023 CAF champions league against A.S Mandji of Gabon slated for this Saturday.
The state contingent comprising of twenty players, six Coaches and eighteen backroom staff is led by Plateau State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Victor Lapang.
This was contained in a statement by the Jos base Club Media Officer, Albert Dakup, which said the contingent is expected to board an ASKY airline to Gabon on Thursday from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos by by 4:40pm on Thursday.
While speaking shortly before their departure, Lapang reminded the team that "you are not only representing Plateau State , but the country at large and urged you to brace up and put smiles on the faces of soccer loving Nigerians".
He restated the commitment of the Plateau State Government under the leadership of Governor Simon Lalong to continue to sponsor the team and warned against any act that will jeopardize their concentration ahead of the match, which is also capable of bringing the name of Nigeria to disrepute.
The statement recalled that, the Plateau United FC which finished second in the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL, has since recruited eleven new players from top NPFL clubs and abroad to fortify the team.
"Top among the players who have joined the peace boys is Ibrahim Mustapha who is staging a return to the team after a short stint with Al Hilal of Sudan and representing them in last season's CAF Champions league as well as CHAN Super Eagles defender, Nweaze Christopher, from Akwa United of Uyo, Mustapha Abdullahi from Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and former Abia Warriors safe hands, Pius Ibrahim".
The team which participated in the recently concluded Value Jet Pre-season Tournament in Ijebu-Ode, home ground of Remo Stars in Ogun State alongside other continental teams, played four matches won one, drew one and lost two after forcing the CHAN Eagles to a one-all draw in a friendly tie at the training pitch of MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Technical Adviser of the team, Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu expressed satisfaction with the team's level of commitment and determination and urged them to give in their best as they are not only representing their team or Plateau State, but Nigeria at large.
The team will trade tackles with the Gabonese side Aso Stade Mandji away and will face former champions Esperance of Tunisia if they overcome the Gabonese side over the two legs.
Also on the trip to Gabon with the team, is the General Manager of the Club, Pius Henwan, Plateau State acting Director of Sports , Simon Moven and the Chairman Plateau State Football Association, PFA, Sunday Longbab.
0 Comments