Can Plateau join exclusive list of double champions?

BY JOHN PAUL NNAMDI

Kennedy Boboye and players celebrating League success for the first time... Can they achieve the double?


Nigeria Professional Football League champions, Plateau United, have a chance to maintain their push to join an elite list of clubs that have won the Nigerian double.

United gaffer, Kennedy Boboye, leads his wards against lower division campaigners, Akwa Starlets, as he seeks to make the club the seventh to achieve the double.

Victory over the second tier Akwa Starlets earns Boboye’s side a place in the quarter-finals and takes him just two steps away from his first Cup final.

When cornered by naijaleaguez.com.ng on their chance of winning the double, the victorious Boboye said: “Definitely, it is possible. It depends on how we work towards it and we are working hard for that.”

Interestingly, the only time Plateau United won the Cup was in 1999 after defeating Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland FC) in the final.

Truth be told. Akwa Starlets must be ready for serious business.

The Uyo side may have scored six goals in previous Round 64 and 32 matches, but this is their first real test in the Aiteo Cup.

On paper United look good to claim this, but the Cup race is indeed unpredictable.



Here are six clubs to have done it previously.

1974: Enugu Rangers

1975: Enugu Rangers

1981: Enugu Rangers

1986: Leventis United

1988: Iwuanyanwu Nationale

1994: BCC Lions

1995: Shooting Stars

2005: Enyimba

So what makes it so tough?

Consistency required to come out on top over 38 matches in a season is an exacting test.

Cup success requires maintaining a winning mentality and alertness even when it is not conducive.

However, anything can happen in football.

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