Players, coaches and officials of Plateau United of Jos have received assurances of total support and backing from Plateau State governing, Simon Lalong, megasportsarena.com reports.
Governor Lalong made the pledge during a surprise visit he paid to the club in training, as they stepped up preparations for this weekend’s CF Champions League clash with Simba Sports Club of Tanzania.
This came barely 48 hours after The Tin City side lost 2-1 to Nasarawa United of Lafia in their last build-up match before Sunday’s game at same venue in Jos, where Coach Abdu Maikaba’s side returned to on Sunday after participating in Governor Okezie Ikpeazu pre-season competition in Aba, but were still able to field a team of experienced professionals for Monday’s match.
Former El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri player, Sunday Anthony gave Plateau United the lead after three minutes, but Adamu Hassan leveled for the visitors ten minutes later, finishing a nest pass by Haggai Katoh.
Nasarawa United then scored what turned out to be the winner in the 18th minute through right back, Abubakar Abdullahi, who headed home Katoh’s free kick, in a game that accorded Maikaba the chance to look more into his second eleven after his team were beaten by Enyimba of Aba in the Ikpeazu competition’s semi-finals last Friday.
Despite noting that the team lost two matches in a row, Lalong said he is confident they will get a good result this Sunday in their continental fixture, especially as he believes adequate motivation by himself and other government functionaries will bring out the best in the lads.
Lalong further declared while going round the dressing room of Jos International Stadium that his government will do everything to back the club fully and promised that the arena will be completed before the end of his tenure in order to boost sporting activities in the state.
The governor, who accompanied by his chief of staff, Noel Dongjur, donated one million naira to the team and congratulated the players for putting Plateau’s name on the continental map once again, after an abruptly ended campaign in 2018, but reminded them that they are not representing the state alone but Nigeria at large.
Lalong stressed: “Remember you are not only representing Plateau State but Nigerians, as such you have to brace up and win the match convincingly. As a government, we will continue to support you to ensure you do well in the CAF Champions League and the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL.”
