Football could be a cruel sport some times especially in the modem game. The transition into a more result oriented campaign often time hinders proper identification of individual talent underrated in a struggling team as people would preferably give attention to the winning team than the team that played better.
Its even more terrible in a league format where there I relegation and promotion. The teams at the bottom of the table are often never given credit for their possible positive execution of a game which might not have been reflected on the score sheet due to one or two errors by other players.
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In the current season of the Nigerian Premier Football League Gombe United have been a team plagued with multiple issues from administration credibility to management reliability with constant managerial fluctuations. These reasons visible at first contributed to the teams unprecedented national campaign although they did claim their State FA Cup trophy and are still present in the Nigerian Federations Cup.
The team sits bottom of the log with less than seven games to go with 25 points but yet to be relegated with slim hoped of surviving but can boast of a host of individual talents who might unfortunately be relegated.
Valentine Ejiga who was one of the new signings this season for Gombe United has been an influential wingback and one of the most solid to go up again.
The right back has featured in 25 League games for them and is yet to pick up caution. He averages a 70% duels won per game and has the highest pass accuracy by any Gombe United player this season.
Being his inaugural season in the top flight - the 18 year old signed from Rovers Football Club of Calabar has impressed immensely in his appearances and is rumored to have attracted interest from various Nigerian Premier Football League teams ahead of the following season should they go down to the Nigeria National League.
His style of play alone has attracted the Pantami stadium faithfuls into turning up for his games week in and out with some select stars who put in a good shift per game. Ejiga averages a 75% pass accuracy in games at home and has completed the most passes by a defender for the team.
The Savannah Scorpions still have to play Heartland, Katsina United, Abia Warriors, Rivers United and Enugu Rangers before it all comes to and end for the campaign and these last few games will no doubt be an opportunity for other teams that will will secure their top flight status to handpick these huge potentials from the squad.
Its been a tough season for the whole Gombe United team and one to forget - but one would think if they could control some internal issues off the pitch the team would be in a better position which would be outside of the relegation zone with the talents at the disposal Such as Valentine Ejiga - what a signing!
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