Niger Tornadoes captain Ifeanyi Okoye has urged his teammates to raise their game and respond positively to the club’s poor start to the Nigeria Premier Football League , NPFL, season.
The Ikon Allah Boys are winless in their last five league matches, recording three defeats and two draws during the run.
The Minna-based club currently sits 17th on the NPFL table and will be looking to arrest the slide when they host Kun Khalifat FC in a Matchday 7 fixture at the Bako Kontagora Stadium on Sunday.
Okoye Warns Against Relegation Battle
Okoye stressed that the team cannot afford to return to the lower division, recalling the difficulties they endured before securing promotion back to the top flight.
“I know how we laboured to achieve promotion back to the top flight, and no one will wish to experience such feelings again,” Okoye told the club’s media.
“Hence, the need for all of us to put heads together and rise to the occasion by giving the fans and supporters, who spend their hard-earned money to watch us, something to be proud of.
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“I also want to acknowledge the important roles played by the present management led by the chairman, Dr. Abubakar Abdullahi Kuso, and the technical crew. We appreciate their sacrifices.
“The stadium has been renovated, the players’ camp has also been renovated to an appreciable standard, and no player is owed salary or match bonuses.
“This makes it even more important for us, as players, to play our part by improving our performance, beginning with the game against Kun Khalifat FC.”
Tornadoes Facing Major Rebuilding Job
Okoye also acknowledged the rebuilding process facing head coach Kabiru Dogo and his technical crew following the departure of a large number of players from last season’s squad.
“Only a handful of regular first-team players from last season are still here, so the current technical crew has to start rebuilding the team after the departure of nearly 80 per cent of the first-team players,” Okoye added.
“It is a herculean task, but we have to come together as players and challenge ourselves to improve our performances.”
Niger Tornadoes will hope to end their winless run when they welcome Kun Khalifat FC to the Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna, on Sunday.
By Adeboye Amosu
