The 2023/24 Nigerian National League Season is gradually winding to a close with only but a few games left.
There is no doubting the fact that fans of Tin City based Highlanders, Mighty Jets Int’l FC were expectant of a more glorious performance from the first Nigerian League Champions (in 1972).
Off course the Management, Technical Crew and Players of the club set out to achieve the goal of contending with the very best and coming out among the top guns at the end of proceedings this season.
Indeed, the team has not really fared badly this season even if its teeming fans may have expected promotion to the elite division, considering that this is the toughest Conference in the league with 7 of the clubs here having featured previously in the top flight, it wasn’t always going to be an easy ride for the Plateau Highlanders.
To start with, this is a completely new Management Team headed by former media head of the club, Mbum Ferdinand in place, the Technical Crew headed by Najib Mabo (son of the legendary Ismaila Mabo) is equally new and holding forth for the first time.
The playing staff is made up of 90% rookies (new players) playing league football at any level for the first time in line with the Management and State Government’s philosophy to catch them young from the grassroot and nurture them to international standard, thereby giving the youths a sense of belonging. The team was definitely going to have its teething problems.
Following the rather unfortunate 1:2 home defeat to neighbours, Nasarawa United (their first this season), where they evidently played better, it was clear that the Young Lads lacked the needed experience but will surely grow and do better next season, the impressive performances in the games against Elkanemi and Plateau United are testimonies of these, patience is what this team needs from all.
