By Tony Ademodi

NPFL Advocate Mr. Tony Ademodi a sports on air personality with MAGIC 102.9 FM Aba, Abia state writes about his top performers in the NPFL so far these season.

Top 5 goalkeepers in the NPFL:

1. Theophilus Afelokhai (ENYIMBA fc).
(Great reflexes, Good foot work and has abilty to read a game from his goalpost).

2. SURAJ AYELESO (kano Pillars FC).

Good aerial ability and always confident in the 18 yard box.

3. CHINEDE ANOZIE (Plateau Utd Fc).

Really doesn’t have the body shape of a goalkeeper, but he has shown that wat he lacks in body size, he’s been able to make up with his great reflexes and always good at one on one with strikers.

4. SHARP UZOIGWE (FC Ifeanyi ubah).

Young goalkeeper, who has shown that he could also challenge for a. top spot soon.

The former Right to win FC of Umuahia goaltender has great agility, and his final service of the ball is also something many Goalkeepera in the league are lacking.

Certainly a Goalkeeper to look out for.

5. Nana Bonsu (Enugu Rangers FC)

Though a foreigner in the league from Ghana, Nana Bonsu has also shown that he is one top Goalkeepers in the NPFL.

His save ratio for Rangers Fc Has also been impressive, an also very confident with good reflex.

DEFENDERS:

1. Ifeanyi Anaemena (Enyimba Fc).

One of The league’s best defenders, no wonder he was invited to the super eagles team.

His boldness and confidence with Enyimba Fc has seen him named as vice captain of the “People’s Elephant”.

Good tackles, ability to read a game, and always very physical with very good aerial abilities with an eye for scoring goals.

A goalkeeper nightmare during set pieces.

2. Andrew Ikefe (Plateau Utd).

Andrew is a beauty to watch, no wonder plateau Utd FC have been one of the best teams so far this season in the Npfl.

His partnership with Salomon Junior or captain Elisha Golbe has been a marriage made in heaven.

Ikefe is calm and very calculative with the ball, sometimes one wonders if he started playing football as a midfielder.

He passes the ball to his teammates with ease and also very very confident in the 18 yard box.

He’s also got good tackles and has got aerial abilities too.

3. Dennis Nya( Akwa Utd Fc).

The former Lobi stars strongman Dennis Nya is one of my best picks for this position.

He is a very strong man in defence, and never scared of making those tackles to save his team from conceeding goals and also has good aerial abilities.

5. Perfait Jean (Abia Warriors FC).

One of the leagues underrated defenders.

The Cameroonian centre half has been a revolution for Abia Warriors FC this season.

His form has seen him feature in all the games for the unusual based club this season.

His got good tackles, good passes and very physical.

MIDFIELDERS:

1. Tony Shimaga (Rangers fc)

The former FC ifeanyi Ubah man is a delight to watch.

Very combative and a box to box midfielder., though best known in the defensive midfield position.

He’s got great passes, and a good tackler too.

His height also has been an asset for him, as it aids him aierially.

2. Morice Chukwu (Akwa Utd)

The former Go Round FC diminutive player has grown beyond bounds.

He is the fulcrum of coach Kennedy Boboye’s Akwa Utd side.

Morice, is known to have gold passes and can dribble his way into the 18 yard box of opponents.

3. Cyril Olisema (Enyimba Fc).

Olisema is my first pick for this position.

The Enyimba creative player has been in top form this season which has also seen him topping the assit chart in NPFL.

The former Gombe Utd Fc, Warri Wolves FC and Akwa Utd fc midfield enforcer is the Roll Royce of the people’s elephant and models his game like that of former Barcelona FC midfielder Andres Iniesta.

He reads the ball so well and will always beat his markers everytime.

Like i said, he is my no.1 pick for this position.

4. Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars)

The old war horse, Rabiu Ali is a name that is unanimous with followers of the NPFL.

Ali has proven beyond doubt that remains as one of the best midfielders in the league.

Ali has got great passing abilities, good dribble skills, has eyes for goals and a good Freekick taker.

5. Cletus Emortan (Rivers Utd)

Diminutive in nature, but watching Cletus Emortan closely, shows why he’s been ever present in Coach Stanley Eguma (Rivers Utd) starting XI.

Good dribbler, confident on the ball, and has an eye for free kicks too.

STRIKERS:

1. Nyima Nwangwa (Kano Pillars).

The former Go Round FC attacker has proven to be a fox in the box.

His time with the “Sai Masu Gida” has been a blessing to him. You can count on him to score goals for you.

Nyima Nwangwa is pacey, strong and concerts his chances to goal when it comes his way.

2. VICTOR MBAOMA (Enyimba Fc).

Victor Mbaoma has proven to be one of the leagues best striker.

From when he burst into the scene with Remo stars FC to Akwa Utd and now ENYIMBA FC, Mbaoma has proved his critics wrong.

Very good aerially, good finishing in front of goal, very pacey, good dribbles and is a complete striker.
Enyimba FC sure will benefit from this man.

4. Ndifreke Effiong (Akwa Utd)

The Akwa Ibom state born goal poacher, is a beast on front of goal. He’s been consistent for the last 4 seasons, from his time laying in the NNL with Abia Comets Fc, to Abia Warriors FC and now back to his home town lacing his boots for Akwa United FC.

Ndifreke has got good goal scoring ratio, footwork and very good aerially.

Let’s not forget also that he is also one of the best utility player in the league, as he can also play on any position in the team.

5.IBRAHIM “Yuga” MUSTAPHA (Plateau Utd).

“Yuga” as he is fondly called is another name worthy of mention.
The Borno state born striker has shown league followers that he’s never been a flash in the pan.

He burst into the scene professionally while playing for home town club El-Kanemi Warriors some years ago.
He scored lots of goals for the “Borno Army”.

He moved on to Enyimba FC and spent 3 seasons with the Aba based club.

Mustapha scores goals for fun, and is also part of the home based eagles.

This season “Yuga” is one of the top scorers in the league.

His greatest asset is his aerial abilities and also his gangling runs.