With Toyin Saheed
Red hot Kwara United striker Stephen Alfred fighting hard to clinch the top scorer’s award in the Nigeria Professional Football League after scoring seven goals in the first 15 games of the season.
Presently only Junior Lokosa of Kano Pillars with 16 goals has more goals than the 18 year old who is in his debut season in the Nigeria Professional Football League following his move from Nigeria National League side Taraba United.
Alfred again scored back to back in the 2018 NPFL, his goal against Sunshine Stars of Akure in week match day 14 and another wonderful goal against the People’s Elephant of Aba, on Wednesday made him a real contender in the NPFL goal chart.
His excellent performance against star studded Enyimba in matchday 15 shows that Alfred is on top of his game as far as the 2018 NPFL season is concerned.
He showed his stuff among the former African champion big stars like, Super Eagles goalkeeper, Okechukwu Ezenwa, Ghanaian National Team goalkeeper, Dauda Radaq Dare Ojo, Okechukwu Ibenegbu, Abdulrahaman Bashir and Andrew Abalogun.
His world class goal against Enyimba on Wednesday turned the whole crowd at the Kwara Stadium into frenzy jubilation because the Nigeria number one goalkeeper didn’t have an answer to it when the ball entered the net in 49th minute.
The Kaduna born forward, who was discovered by former Nigeria League veteran midfielder, Chuba Shedrack’s primary aim was to ensure that Kwara United maintain a consistent run of good form to improve their position on the log standings.
He however said he is confident he will be able to finish as top scorer due to the fine relationship he enjoys with his campmates.
According to Stephen, his teammates were largely responsible for his recent run of form that has seen him scored three goals in his last two games.
” I’m not thinking about the top scorer award. My immediate aim is to help my team Kwara United maintain our current run”, Stephen said.
” That said, I’m confident in the support of my teammates that I can win the top scorer award. Their support has taken me this close to the top scorer in the league. Hence it can also help me finish as top scorer”, he said.
Speaking on his future plans, he hope to make the next U20 team of Nigeria, ironically same team Obuh last coached internationally but are now under the tutelage of coach Paul Aigbogun.
Alfred said that his target of getting 25 goals before the end of the season can only be met if he keeps scoring regularly for his club.
“I have set a target of 25 goals for myself and I am working very hard to ensure that I get it,” he told Goal.
“I have seven already which means I am just looking for 20 goals more. It is possible if only I keep scoring regularly with the support of my teammates. I am enjoying my debut season in the premier league.”
“We are doing well presently but we hope that the draw we got in Sunshine will mark the beginning of great change in results.
“I will like to add to the seven goals I have scored already this season. We need to remain united and try as much as possible to maintain the same level of consistency from the beginning to the end.
“We have done a lot of talking to one another and I know it is time for us to go beyond talking and try to execute our plans in the pitch,” he emphasized.
“The new, Bala Abubakar is good coach and he made a lot differences since his assumption and we believe we would do well under him.”
