By MFON PATRICK - With three draws and two loses in their last five matches, reigning Nigeria Professional Football League Champions Akwa United are poised to turn things around and return to winning ways on Monday when they engage visiting Shooting Stars of Ibadan at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The Promise Keepers who are 9th on the log with 28 points after 21 rounds of matches comprising seven victories, eight draws with six loses will be aiming to go for all three points against Shooting Stars who are 12th on the log, - a team that forced them to a 1-1 draw in Ibadan on match-day 2.
After going five matches without a win, scoring just twice while conceding eight goals, Akwa United are committed and determined to go all out on Monday as they hope to establish their superiority over Shooting Stars who have lost all their five previous visits to Uyo.
In the eleven previous meetings between Akwa United and Shooting Stars, both teams have enjoyed five wins apiece while one of those matches ended in draw. The fixture has never produced an away win in the league.
Coach Ayodeji Ayeni who joined the the Promise Keepers in mid-season has guided the champions to two successive draws in their last two games against Rivers United and Kano Pillars, and he will be eager to record his first win for his new team on match-day 22.
Coach Ayeni will, however be without the services of four key players; Captain Ubong Friday, speedster Wisdom Fernando, and reliable defenders Samson Gbadebo and Denis Nya, who are all nursing various degrees of injuries.
The coaching crew will turn their attention to some of the mid-season signings to get the job done when they engage 3SC.
Victory for the champions will further push them up the log. The crucial game which was originally fixed for Sunday 10th was shifted to Monday 11th April and will be played at the Nest of Champions at Four O'clock in the afternoon.
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