Plateau United coach, Kennedy Boboye, has vowed to retain the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title next season.
Against all odds, the Jos-based outfit were crowned Nigerian champions last term, despite only gaining promotion a year before.
Ahead of the start of the 2017/18 season, Boboye has boasted to replicate the feat of the previous season and also put up a decent showing on the continent.
“We will fight to retain the league and try to come out positively in the CAF Champions League by not going out early like other Nigerian representatives have been doing in the past,” the tactician told AOIFootball on Friday.
“Retaining the title won’t be an easy task because nobody even gave us a chance of winning the league last season, so defending it will even be a much more difficult task for us.
“But I believe with the additions we are making to the team, we can achieve even more success than last season.”
Boboye is hoping to buck the recent trend that has seen league champions stutter in their title defence.
“It’s alarming the way defending champions go to sleep the following season. Look at the case of Rangers, Leicester City, Chelsea and even Real Madrid, who are not doing too well this season after their heroics last season.
“This is something that comes to my mind every time I think ahead of next season, but I believe I am capable of overcoming such a challenge.
“I believe it’s doable to play in the final of the Continental championship if all hands are on deck and we start early preparations and getting players that we think are capable of playing for us, having a good campaign and also playing quality friendly matches.”
Boboye also praised the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, for his continuous efforts in ensuring the team moves to their new stadium soonest.
He added: “We have the backing of the Governor and he is doing everything possible to make sure that we move to our new stadium and play all our games there.”
