Sharks, Dolphins tango in Port Harcourt derby

The Nigeria Premier League has been witnessing keen contest from participating teams

Current League leaders, Dolphin FC, will face a stern test this weekend when they confront local rivals, Sharks FC, in the star fixture of the Nigeria Premier League, which enters the third week this weekend.

The game is billed for the Sharks FC Stadium, and is one of the three games that would be shown live on Super Sport 9. Games between the two sides have always attracted sentiments from football fans in the Garden City who have their loyalty divided between both sides. Currently, Dolphins have a perfect record of two wins from two games, while Sharks though unbeaten have two points from the two games played so far. Stanley Eguma, Dolphins manager, says it will be a game like any other game but his side will be careful against their city neighbours. “First we thank God that we go into that game at the top of the table with six points from two matches,” he said. “We also know that games against Sharks are always difficult games and we will be careful but not concentrate too much because eventually it is a game like another we will play in the League this season.”

Anything can happen

“The season is still early and anything can happen,” he said. “We are still trying our best to gel as a team and soon our fans will really get the best out of us.” Meanwhile, Sharks media officer, Confidence Idaa, believes his side now know how to beat Dolphins. “Whatever happened in previous seasons will count for nothing now,” he said. “We are in a new season and we have started well. We will beat Dolphins on Saturday.” Idaa said.

Last season in the derby, Dolphins and Sharks ended it 1-1 at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium; and at the Sharks Stadium, it was a dramatic goalless draw with Sharks failing to score twice from the penalty spot. NPL chairman, Davidson Owumi, has also said the league will be keeping a close watch on the match to avoid any sort of violence. “We will be keeping a close watch on the match and we will not hesitate to apply stiff sanctions on anybody who is found to have acted in a way that brings the game into disrepute,” he said. “So we urge both teams to control both their players and their supporters and give Nigerians and the rest of Africa a fantastic derby game that we can be proud of, and may the better side win.”
Source:http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Sport/Football/5643813-147/story.csp