By Trill Times Sports Desk
The “Peace Boys” finally found their rhythm – and what a way to do it! Plateau United shook off a shaky start to the season with a commanding 2- 0 victory over defending champions Remo Stars at the New Jos Stadium, ending their three-week wait for a win in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
The turnaround didn’t come out of nowhere. Just 2 days before the clash, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang stormed the team’s camp with words of encouragement, promising steadfast support for their campaign. It was a classic pep talk – and the result showed on the pitch.
From kickoff, Plateau United looked sharper, hungrier, and determined to prove a point. They pressed high, snapped into tackles, and carved open chances. But it wasn’t until the 61st minute that the breakthrough finally came – from the unlikeliest of heroes. A towering defender, Tarabina also famous for his long throw-ins rose majestically to power home a header from Vincent Temitope’s cross that sent the Jos faithful into a frenzy.
Remo Stars, unbeaten before the trip to Jos, suddenly looked rattled. Their misery deepened in the 70th minute when Remo’s defender, Johnson made light the work of the Referee from Sokoto Referees Council, Dr Bashir Saidu, a University Don, when he hacked to the ground a striker that was through on goal. He was shown a straight red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO). Down to 10 men, the champions were hanging by a thread.
Plateau United smelled blood and went for the kill. The second goal came with style and grit — Mafeng pounced on a loose rebound after the Remo keeper spilled a freekick, calmly tucking the ball into the net to seal the points and the bragging rights.
This was no fluke. United didn’t just beat Remo Stars – they mesmerized them, outplaying the champions in every department. The win was a statement: the boys from Jos are back, and with Governor Mutfwang’s backing, their season may have just kicked off in earnest.
Next should have been a mouth-watering North Central derby against Kwara United in Ilorin. The “Afonja Warriors” are not only NPFL contenders but also Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup representatives after lifting last season’s Federation Cup but Kwara would be engaged in Continental. For Plateau United, it would have been another stern test – but one that now feels less daunting after slaying the champions.
And then comes September 28, when El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri march into Jos. By then, the Peace Boys could be on a roll, climbing the table and restoring the fear factor to their fortress.
