15 March 2011
Dolphin of Port Harcourt are the first round champions of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).
They have 43 points from 19 matches, four points ahead of closest rivals Sunshine Stars.
MTNFootball.com lists five major reasons why Dolphin are on course to their third NPL title.
1. Continuity
In a league, where most clubs lack stability as a result of frequent changes in coaches and playing staff, Dolphin are an exception rather than the rule.
Skipper Emmah Godwin, Captain Ejindu, goalkeeper Sunday Rotimi, Victor Babayaro and Wobo Owazuoke have been with the Port Harcourt outfit since 2006 and have been very much in the clubs hunt for glory this term.
This has translated into a great chemistry on the pitch as the players play for each other.
2. Coach Stanley Eguma
Grassroots coach Stanley Eguma is now almost synonymous with this club. But besides his long service, he has proved to be one of the top coaches on the domestic scene.
After several years of speculations, his hard work in the league has finally been recognised with his appointment as an assistant coach in the countrys Olympic team.
And already his contribution to the national Under-23 team could be seen with the quality of call-ups to the team.
3. Determination
Dolphin are driven to succeed particularly after city rivals Sharks broke a 38-year jinx to win a major piece of silverware, the sub-regional WAFU Cup.
There is a unity of purpose as the players have all resolved to win something for Rivers State and for themselves this season, disclosed coach Eguma.
The club want to win the title again, added experienced defender Mutiu Adegoke.
We are a united team, who work hard, have a great self-belief, are determined and disciplined.
This drive has been helped by adequate motivation for the players, who each receives 7,000 naira (about $50) a day as feeding allowance when they are on the road.
After a late release of funds at the start of the season which forced them to embark on a strike, cash has not been a problem as they are bankrolled by oil-rich Rivers State.
4. Meanest defence
They have the meanest defence in the entire league after letting in only nine goals in the first 19 matches of the season.
And this even more crucial because they do not have a proven goal getter and do not often score many goals.
Besides three top goalkeepers, they boast hard tackling central defender and skipper Emma Godwin as well as Uche Oguchi, who two years ago was making for Super Eagles debut while at Lobi Stars.
Former Asec Mimosas of Abidjan leftback Mutiu Adegoke has returned from a five-month injury but cannot get back to the starting XI as ex-youth international Kennedy Chinwo has been converted to play in that position.
Another top defender who has been spending more time on the subs bench is former Bayelsa United skipper Kola Awe. This again underpins the quality in the team.
They have also made the most of home advantage by winning all 10 home games, added to having the best away record in the league four wins and a draw.
5. Big competitive squad
They have strength indepth and so remain very competitive even when key players like Sunday Rotimi, Chidi Osochukwu, Abduljaleel Ajagun, Austin Festus and Omoh Ojabu are away on national team duty.
For example, third choice goalkeeper Ochiogu Uddo has held his own in the absence of preferred rivals, Rotimi and Atta Afeso.
This has been most crucial in a year when the countrys Under-20, Under-23 as well as the B teams are all in training camp about the same time.
Overall, it has been a wholesome team effort that has installed Dolphin at the top of the tree on the domestic scene in Nigeria.
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