Bayelsa United coach Meremu Okara has set a target of a top-nine finish in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) this season, despite his team’s precarious position just outside the relegation zone.
The “Prosperity Boys” moved to 14th place following a 1-0 victory over South-South rivals Rivers United on Sunday. However, that win leaves them only one point clear of the three-team drop zone with multiple matches remaining. Okara insists the club’s ambition remains firmly focused on the upper half of the 20-team table.
“I would like the team to end the season among the top nine — I mean above 10th position — say from ninth going up the ladder. That’s what we’re pursuing,” Okara stated after the Rivers United match.
Bayelsa United, based in Yenagoa, will next travel to face Kun Khalifat FC this weekend. The upcoming fixture presents another opportunity to gain ground on competitors in the congested mid-table and lower reaches of the NPFL standings.
The club’s season has been defined by inconsistency, reflected in their current league placing. A top-nine finish would represent a significant achievement and secure comfortable mid-table safety, moving well clear of the relegation battle that has defined much of their campaign to date. Okara’s target underscores a shift in focus from survival to a more ambitious goal as the season progresses.
The NPFL season runs until June, with each point crucial in the tight competition. Bayelsa United’s performance in the coming matches will be pivotal in determining whether they can transform Okara’s top-nine aspiration into reality, or if they will remain embroiled in a fight to avoid the drop to the lower division.
