BY SAB OSUJI, in Owerri

There's no better time for football freaks to gather inside the OISA Sports Complex, Okpala, near Owerri, Imo State, than now as the 2024 Nationwide League One, NLO, playoffs get underway today, 20 April, 2024.

And for two weeks, the 'best' of domestic third tier football would be served the enthusiastic fans on a platter. 

No fewer than ten (10) football clubs will be involved in this festival of champaign Soccer, including new entrants, St Nwadinso Football Academy, Oba, near Onitsha, Anambra State, A&A Kiviasennus, Nnewi, also of Anambra State, Campos of Owerri, Kun Khalifa of Owerri, Ikukuoma of Owerri amongst others.

Already, Okpala, the quiet town in Ngor Okpala LGA, Imo State has become a pilgrimage for football since the emergence of OISA Sports Mini Stadium in the area, sharing boundary with the famous St Peter Clavee Seminary School, Okpala.

This morning at 8am, A&A Kiviasennus will get their campaign underway with an opening fixture against traditional foes, Campos FC.

Last year, both sides crossed each other's path in the same playoff at Awka City Stadium, Anambra State. Non of the two eventually made the lift to the NNL as Coal City FC, Enugu, making their debut in the playoff, against all pre tournament expectation, came, saw and conquered and are today campaigning in the nation's 'most important league', NNL.

And as the saying goes, 'he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day'. For A&A and Campos, today is that 'another day'. 

William Shakespear said in Julius Caesar, 'there's a tide in the affairs of men which taken afloat, leads on to fortune. (But if) Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and miseries. And we must take the current when it serves. Or lose the venrure'. This completely underlines the importance of this opening fixture for A&A, and by extension, Campos. A win puts the Coach Ben Lotanna's charges in strong footing for the slot from the South East and a step closer to the National Playoffs.

For debutants, St Nwadinso, nothing will excite him more than plucking a win in their first competitive game as a club. Coach Obinna Achebe has done a tremendous work in moulding a combative squad since the club came into existence a few months ago.

'A test of the pudding, it is often said, lies in the eating'. So, the performance of the team, and perhaps, the outcome of today's opening match, will put to test his players understanding of his philosophy and equally define their progression in the entire playoff.