Kodjovi Dadzié eyes NPFL title
Akwa United defender Kodjovi Dadzié is targeting the Nigeria Professional Football League title with the Promise Keepers next season.
The Togo international, who has been with the club since 2016, was restricted to just seven league matches last term due to injury.
After enduring an injury-ravaged season, Dadzié says he’s aiming to win the NPFL title, which has eluded the Uyo club.
“Since I came here [in 2016], every year we’ve always got close [ to winning the league],” the Togolese told 234football. “My priority is the league title. I really want us (Akwa United) to become league champions.
The NPFL was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, before the League Management Company declared the campaign over with the points-per-game system used as a basis for the final league table.
However, the new season is set to start on December 6 and Dadzié — who is fit and raring to go — has expressed delight at the prospect of returning to action.
“I’ve missed football so much. You know, there’s been no football action since March.
“I didn’t play many matches last season because of injury, but now that I’m back I feel I’m ready and I’m looking forward to playing a lot of matches.”
The left-back also revealed he’s looking to make a return to the Togo national team, which he last played for in 2016.
“Every player wants to play for their national teams. Of course, I want to play many matches this season so that I can earn a recall to the Togo team.”
It remains to be seen whether the defender will get much game time, though, given that he is now third in Kennedy Boboye’s left-back pecking order.
Philip David is Boboye’s first choice, while Chiwendu Ali — who, like Dadzié, is eyeing a brilliant season with Akwa United — comes second.
“I just want to give my best, to improve on what I gave the team last season and make the fans happy,” Ali said in a chat with 234football.
He added: “This season, we’re hoping to perform very well because a lot is expected from us (Akwa United players). The Akwa Ibom State Government (owners of Akwa United) has treated us so well, so they expect us to perform well.”
Akwa United, still in search of their first-ever league title, have claimed two FA Cup titles in the last five years.
Within the period, they’ve also come so close to becoming NPFL champions on two occasions.
And last season, they were just nine points behind the top team Plateau United with 13 matches left to play, before the season ended abruptly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The club, led by Kenneth Boboye — who tasted league glory with Plateau United in the 2016-17 season — have not hidden their league title ambitions.