NPFL: Chidiebere Ernest tasks Niger Tornadoes to brace up for ‘tough’ second stanza 

By Wale Mustapha

Niger Tornadoes’ midfielder, Chidiebere Ernest has called on his team mates to redouble their efforts as they prepare for the second round of Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL season.

The Ikon Allah Boys have had a miserable first stanza of the league with unimpressive results placing them 16th on the log.

The Minna based club had been prosecuting their home games at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna and went on to rejig the team with additional fresh legs in a bid to retain their status in the elite division.

Ernest, 19, who admitted that the team performed below expectations in the first round, expressed confidence in the team’s quality to bounce back to reckoning in the latter stage of the campaign.

“Yes, it has been a tough start for us. We know we haven’t performed up to our standards, but we’re determined to turn things around in the second half of the season,” he told NigeriaFootball.ng.

“To start with, we need to tighten up our defense. We conceded many goals than we scored in the first half of the season, and we know we can’t afford to continue like that if we want to stay in the league.

“We need to be more clinical in front of goal. We’ve created chances but haven’t been able to convert them into goals consistently, I believe we will get things right in the second round because we are a team with much qualities.”

Niger Tornadoes will start the second round with a clash against Katsina United when the second round commence in Katsina on Wednesday February 14.