Before It Falls Apart For Sharks FC

The steady fall of Sharks Football Club from the upper rungs of the Nigeria Professional Football League table has left many of the club’s supporters dumbfounded and shocked about a team that started this campaign showing a lot of promise with some modest results. Sharks was a
pleasant side whose subtle approach of patient build-up play caused problems for opposing sides both home and away.
The Blue Angels, under the tutelage of Gbenga Ogunbọtẹ became not only the toast of Rivers state fans but also in some other parts of the country where good football is appreciated. During their “peak period” in the first stanza, Sharks embarked on a surging run of 10 matches’ unbeaten sequence, claiming a win in Kaduna against Kaduna United whilst also notching a respectable draw at Warri Wolves.
The run was however ended in Jalingo when they conceded a last gasp goal against hosts FC Taraba. They would follow it up with two more defeats, first at Champions Kano Pillars and more disappointingly at home to Akwa United in the final match of the round. Last weekend’s loss to a struggling Crown FC has made the most ardent supporter to press the panic button.
Like the biblical Lucifer, Sharks fell from their high heavens into the deep. From being placed 1st in Week 16 to a lowly 11th after Week 24’s round of matches and just four points above the drop zone.

“How art thou fallen from the heavens, O Sharks, the Blue Angels…?” Were there signs at all before this sharp decline? Can anything still be done to salvage the current campaign? What should they now realistically focus on achieving having seen how things have panned out? These are some of the questions on the lips of fans & admirers of Sharks which are begging for answers.
In answering the latter, I can say yes, the campaign can still be rescued. Something good can still come out of the campaign for Sharks seeing there is still a third (1/3) of the season left to play. Unfortunately, the mid-season break has done more harm than good to the team during which they lost two key players Ajani Ibrahim and Ifeanyi Inyiam, experienced campaigners in the league depleting a squad lacking depth.
Sharks started the season with the intent of a getting a continental ticket, a target still achievable if the players, technical crew and sponsors work assiduously to achieve this. The available players must be ruthless in dealing with opposition especially during home matches and tactically disciplined in away games while club sponsor must ensure that any outstanding salaries and match bonuses must be paid immediately.
The city derby match against Dolphins provides a unique opportunity to arrest the slide down the table. Sharks must start biting and bite real hard.