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The Glo Premier League has served up some interesting match ups and players have strutted their stuff to great effect. Such has been the beauty of the game in the first half of the season that fans, in their thousands, have swarmed stadiums across the country to be entertained on match days.
A lot of players have also proven their worth over the first half of the season due to their swash buckling performances on the pitch helping their teams to places on the log.
Players like Bright Ejike, Godspower Anefiok, Rabiu Ali, Ndifreke Effiong and Chisom Chikatara all shone like a million stars in the fist stanza of the 2015 NPFL season
Picking eleven players from a horde of fantastic players is always going to be a herculean task. However, supersport.com’s Andrew Randa serves us his best eleven among the crop.
It was a huge dilemma for me selecting eleven players that will make my starting X1. With a lot of talented players from a pool of 50, I’ve drawn up my team of the first half of the season using different metrics for players meriting their shirts.
I’ll go with a 4-3-3 formation which is what most teams are used to in the Glo Premier League.
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Ejiogu, popularly called 'Arugo Monkey' has reclaimed the number one shirt from Femi Thomas and has done well to keep it that way.
Although Thomas was between the sticks in the last game before the break, it is expected that Ejiogu will continue to man the posts as he has been instrumental in Enyimba conceding only 16 goals-the lowest in the league.
Right back- Markson Ojobo (Enyimba FC, Aba)
The second Enyimba player in the starting line up and for good measure too. The former youth international has cleaned up his game and rarely gets into the referees books like the previous seasons.
Ojobo, who is also comfortable playing as a centre back has been one of the stalwarts of the Enyimba defence as they sit on second position on the log and continue the hunt for a first NPFL title in four years.
Left back- Jonathan Zikiye (Dolphins FC, Port-Harcourt)
The only bright spot in an otherwise drab Dolphins side who haven't had a good season so far.
Zikiye, in his second season with Dolphins has scored three goals already from his defensive position and his runs down the flanks have been immense for the Port-Harcourt side.
He scored the equalizer for Dolphins in Kano against Pillars in one of the better games his team has played this season as Dolphins forced the home side to a 2-2 draw
Centre back-Nojeem Raji (Giwa FC, Jos)
Giwa FC started the league like a house on fire, picking away points and being among the top teams in the league and has been largely due to Raji's leadership and experience in defence.
The former Enyimba defender organised the defence very well and uses his height to great effect.
Despite Giwa's stutter at the latter part of the first half of the season, their fifth placing on the log attests to this.
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Eze has started fulfilling his potential since his emergence at Lobi Stars a few years ago.
Unbeatable aerially and strong in the tackle, he has been a revelation since the start of the current season helping Sunshine Stars to top spot in the Glo Premier League at the half way stage.
Eze has won a few admirers and is touted for a call up by new Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh.
Midfield- Paul Onobi (Sunshine Stars, Akure)
Onobi has been one of the stand out performers in the Glo Premier League this season. One of the unheralded players in Nigeria, he goes about his business quietly but efficiently.
He is a defensive midfielder who's technical abilities make him a gem in the middle of the pack for the Akure Gunners.
He screens the midfield quite well and has an eye for goal too. A Super Eagles call up isn't far away from the player if he sustains his form.
Midfield- Lordson Ichull (Warri Wolves)
Ichull has finally started showing why he was highly rated at ABS as one of the finest young players in the country.
He had a torrid time breaking into the Warri Wolves side when he arrived Warri, but has been ever present in Wolves season and has made great strides with the team.
He can play as a defensive midfielder and an in an offensive position in the midfield. His work rate makes him a favorite with coach Paul Aigbogun.
Attack- Bright Ejike (Heartland FC, Owerri)
Bright Ejike has been the best striker in the Glo Premier League for the first half of the season not necessarily for his goals but how he scores them.
He is good with both feet and has also scored with his head to chalk up 11 goals at the half way mark.
The former youth international has pace to burn and has been a nightmare for defenders in the NPFL so far.
Attack- Tunde Adeniji (Sunshine Stars)
Adeniji is the third player from Sunshine Stars to make my team and for good reason too. He is tied on 11 goals with Bright Ejike on the top scorers chart.
He scored a beauty against Heartland in week 7, bursting through from the midfield, skipping past a couple of defenders before slotting home as Sunshine Stars hit the home side 3-0.
Coach Kennedy Boboye will hope Adeniji maintains his goal scoring form as the Akure Gunners chase a first ever Glo Premier League title.
Attack-Ibrahim Shuaibu (Giwa FC, Jos)
Shuaibu played a prominent role as Giwa FC finished on the top half of the NPFL log in their debut season in the 2014 season and has continued in that stead.
The Kafanchan born striker can play anywhere in attack either as a top man or just behind the main striker.
He has occasionally played in an offensive midfield position such that his versatility makes him one of the first names on Coach Tony Bolus list every weekend.
He was called up to the Super Eagles camp preparatory to the Afcon 2015 qualifier against Chad
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Skipper of the reigning champions has continued where he stopped last season despite Kano Pillars having yo-yo first half of the season.
Not the most flamboyant of players, he is the engine room of all the positive offensive workings of the ‘Sai Masugida’. Ali’s technical ability is one of the best in the Glo Premier League and he also weighs in with his fair share of goals.
His defence splitting passes has made the likes of Godspower Anefiok thrive this season as Pillars will look to bounce back in the second half of the season.
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Coach: Kennedy Boboye (Sunshine Stars)
Source: Supersport
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