Gombe drub Sunshine

30 June 2011

NPL leaders Sunshine Stars suffered another heavy defeat when they fell 3-0 at Gombe United in a rescheduled match.

Sunshine though maintained their top spot despite closest rivals Dolphin beating visiting Kaduna United 1-0 in Port Harcourt.

Both Sunshine and Dolphin have recorded 57 points apiece, but the Akure club enjoy a better goal difference.

Gombe have thus leapfrogged to 12th place with 38 points.

In Wednesday’s other rescheduled fixture, Heartland defeated bottom club JUTH of Jos 4-2 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

The win catapulted the ‘Naze Millionaires’ three spots up as they now occupy 13th position on 37 points.

However, they face a daunting task at home Sunday when they host second-placed Dolphin.

Chibuzor Ozurumba grabbed a brace for the Owerri club in the fifth and 17th minutes, before Nigeria international Chibuzor Okonkwo extended their lead on 19 minutes.

Skipper Chinedu Efugh made it 4-0 in the 62nd minute.

However, JUTH skipper Danjuma Abdullahi pulled two goals in the 73rd and 87th minutes.

The club management has also rescinded an earlier decision to place the players on half pay until there is an improvement in the position of the team on the table.

“The decision to slash the pay of the players has been rescinded as the players have promised to do their best and improve the fortunes of the club,” Heartland spokesman Cajetan Nkwopara told MTNFootball.com

“There is a new spirit in the team and we believe the win over JUTH has lifted the confidence of the players going into the match against Dolphin this weekend.”