Two weeks ago I did write a piece entitled ‘our league has gone mad….again’. In it I discussed the frenzy and the cut throat battle to win the league and invited the NFL to take more than a passing glance at the remaining matches.

But for the popularity and the exposure of the premiership, I am tempted to say this year’s league is as popular.

I believe it is to the credit of the league organizing body that 33 matches on,  teams like Heartland and Enyimba can still draw at home in matches they would have hitherto won at all cost. I have the strong feeling that whoever wins the league this year will be worthy of its crown.

This week I want to take an interesting look at the drop zone where the battle is as fierce if not fiercer than the promotion battle. This study becomes even more interesting given the quality or perhaps the names of the teams involved.

That Akwa United, Kwara United, Insurance, Gombe United and Sharks are facing the drop is enough to send shivers down the spines of traditional league followers in Nigeria .

The highest number of points that Insurance can get is 40 if they win all their remaining home matches against Akwa, Nasarawa and Ocean Boys. . Their  away matches against Jigawa, Lobi and Sharks- teams that stand threatened ,is where the problem is..  On paper a sure banker for relegation.

Jigawa Golden Stars will aim for 39 pts if they can beat Insurance and Sharks at home. Their third home match is against Heartland and this will be a tough nut to crack. Away they may have no chance against Ocean Boys and Wikki, while their last match against Prime may be interesting depending on the position they both find themselves then. Jigawa has the advantage of an outstanding match.

While Prime has a tough home duel with neighbouring Sunshine, other matches against JUTH and Jigawa maybe no problem. However it is at away that Prime’s survival battle may face it’s waterloo as they may not find answers to Bayelsa, Rangers and Gombe.

 If there is any team that is running scared, that team is Kwara United. With the toughest of home matches against title challengers  Enyimba, Tornadoes and Bayelsa, Kwara United has a handful and will be lucky to win any of those matches. At away they come across Zamfara, Pillars and Nasarawa. If not well handled, Kwara may not escape the drop. However, with so much managerial experience and the involvement of Clemens Westerhoff in a rescue mission, the Afonja Warriors dream a miraculous escape.

Although games in hand may be deceptive, the 39 pts they have is with two games in hand whose security they can afford to rely on for the time being.

At away, Gombe has no hope against Sharks, Heartland and Enyimba. They will struggle to win at home against Ocean Boys, Wikki and Prime. The poor run at the continent is not a morale booster.

It is unbelievable that a team with so much quality is wallowing at the foot of the table

The team has "home" matches against Lobi Stars, Ocean Boys and Wikki Tourists. With only four teams under Akwa in a league where four will be relegated, the team is condemned to winning all its  home matches if it must survive the drop.

The away matches are against Insurance, Sharks, and Heartland.  Tough matches all, given the survival and promotion involvement of the opposition.

Just as in the case of Kwara, Jos University Teaching Hospital has crunchy home ties against Heartland, Enyimba and Tornadoes. One does not see them winning all of them. At away, they are also against title chasers Pillars and relegation haunted Prime and Zamfara.

Of all the relegation threatened teams, Sharks on paper appears to have the simplest of fixtures as epitomized by their home games against Gombe, Akwa and Insurance of Benin. At away it may not be that easy against Sunshine, Jigawa and Lobi stars.

Nasarawa is still basking in the credible draw recorded against Akwa United in Calabar at away. Incidentally the team has also been banned to Calabar and it remains to be seen how their luck will be stretched there against Tornadoes, Pillars and Kwara. At away they will be up against Lobi, Insurance and Ocean Boys of Yenagoa.

On paper, Insurance, Prime and Jigawa appear doomed to relegation. It remains to be seen however who among the rest will join them and the answer to this and many other questions  may come in the next two weeks as some teams will be relegated mathematically.

The people of Calabar are in for a soccer feast starting from today as Nasarawa square up to Tornadoes. Tomorrow it will be the turn of Akwa United against Lobi Stars while Dolphins will take over on Sunday in a continental tie. In those days of Rovers, the U J Esuene stadium would have been packed full every day of these top class football action but alas those days are gone.

I am one of those who were quick to commend Globacom for taking out space in the newspapers to activate the league. What I have seen of recent makes me wonder whether we are involved in the same league. For instance Glo has always refered to Akwa as AWKA UNITED. Always . Thursday was the height of it as Lobi Stars was advertised to face both ‘Awka united’ and Bayelsa. The worst part of the misinformation involved the non realization by the league sponsors that Enyimba,Gombe, and Wikki will not play this week end due to their continental assignments. What is what doing is what doing well