Plateau United have become the latest NPFL club to signify interest to participate in the inaugural edition of Unity Cup Preseason Football Tournament billed for Abuja, as new coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, steps up his efforts to build a new strong Tin City squad, Completesports.com reports.
The 10-team Unity Cup Preseason Football Tournament will get underway from October 30 until November 5, 2021.
Plateau United won the NPFL title for the first in 2017 – their first in history. Three years later, in 2020, they were crowned champions again after the league was suspended following the outbreak of the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Plateau United have already played three friendly games; losing 0-2 to Lobi Stars, drew 1-1 with Wikki Tourists and earned a hard-fought 2-1 win against newly promoted NPFL side, Níger Tornadoes.
Plateau United new Manager, Ilechukwu, is looking to relaunch the Tin City side back unto the continent and has confirmed the club’s involvement in the Unity Cup Preseason Tournament.
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Ilechukwu says the preseason tournament is an opportunity for him to get a proper assessment of his team’s individual players at competitive level before the start of the 2021/2022 season.
Ilechukwu began his top league coaching career at MFM FC, then handled Heartland before succeeding Abdul Maikaba at Plateau United ahead of the 2021/2022 season.
“The timing of the Abuja Pre Season Tournament is most appropriate for the participating teams as it will put them in a competitive frame before the 2021/2022 NPFL season begins”, Ilechukwu said.
“We’ve quite a number of new players, so we need such tournaments to have a proper look at the players and get them appreciate and fall into our philosophy”.
Ilechukwu is understood to have mandated his overweight outfield players to shade their weights and retain not more than 75kg each, while pegging 80kg as limit weight for his goalkeepers.
Plateau United represented the country in the CAF Champions League in 2018 and 2021.
Meanwhile, Executive Committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Ahmed Fresh, has thrown his weight behind Unity Cup Preseason Football Tournament.
Fresh is the Coordinator of the North Central Football fraternity and expressed his appreciation to the organizers of the tournament, promising to mobilize NPFL clubs in the zone to be part of the tournament.
“The initiative will not only give the participating teams the opportunity to assess the quality of their new recruits and will provide clubs managers of the participating clubs the needed avenue to share ideas that will greatly lead to the development of the game in the country,” Fresh remarked.
He advised the organizers to remain focused and ensure that they sustain the tournament.
Patrick Ngwaogu, Coordinator of the Unity Cup Preseason Football Tournament, expressed profound gratitude to Alhaji Fresh, who is also Chairman of Niger State Football Association, for his humility in appreciating the tournament’s concept and assured all participants will enjoy the best of organization at all times.
He assured that all the NPFL clubs in the North Central are earnestly looking forward to the commencement of the tournament.
