30 January 2011
Bukola Babes are the biggest revelation of the Nigeria Premier League this season after they beat Heartland 1-0 to shoot to third place on the table.
The NPL new comers, whose top stars earn a monthly salary of about $200, have thus recorded 23 points from 13 matches.
Bukola Babes would maintain third spot if closest rivals Warri Wolves fail to beat Enugu Rangers in Enugu later Sunday.
They are so far unbeaten as well as maintaining a clean sheet in their last six matches and they could well extend this impressive run this coming weekend away at struggling JUTH of Jos in Kaduna.
Were truly at home in Bauchi, where we have won all our three home games so far. The fans here have come out in large numbers to cheer us to victory, said an elated right back Cletus James, who again posted a five-star performance on Saturday.
Recently signed winger Saleh Alhassan formerly of Taraba FC was the super-sub hero for the Ilorin side when he fired home on 58 minutes with only his second touch of the game.
Alhassan swung what first looked like a pullout from the left flank, which dipped before resting inside the Heartland net for the winner of a highly entertaining game watched by a large crowd at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi.
Heartland forward Osas Okoro saw red after the game for dissent after several of his teammates clustered around the referee in protest over what they alleged what poor officiating.
Bukola Babes leading scorer Abdulrahman Bashir came within whisker of becoming the first player to hit the five-goal mark this term, when his brilliant effort crashed against the post two minutes from the break.
He also had a penalty appeal overlooked by the referee in the 24th minute when he was brought down inside the box on his way to goal.
We are the only privately owned club in the NPL and even though were no money bags, we have shown a good example of how a club should be managed, a proud Bukola Babes team manager, Alloy Chukwuemeka, told MTNFootball.com.
Also on Saturday, Kaduna United failed for the first time this season to score a goal when they were held back by Plateau United to a goalless draw at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
Nigerias CAF Confederation Cup hopefuls have scored in all 12 matches before bottom team Plateau United brought this impressive run to a halt.
Sharks moved to fifth place on the table after they defeated Niger Tornadoes 3-0 at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, also on Saturday.
Veteran striker Victor Ezeji got Sharks going after just three minutes, before youth international Bright Ejike doubled the lead of the host team in the second half.
Ezeji then completed his brace with a header late on.
Niger Tornadoes slid closer to the relegation zone as they are now in 15th place with 12 points from 13 games.
