Akwa Ibom derby: “Bigger-club” mentality will inspire Akwa Utd to victory, says Morice Chukwu

Akwa United midfielder Morice Chukwu believes his side’s pedigree will help them claim all three points in Sunday’s Akwa Ibom derby with Dakkada FC at the Nest of Champions.

Chukwu, who joined Akwa United at the start of the season after bringing down the curtain on his Go-Round FC career, has been one of the key figures for the Promise Keepers this season.

He played every minute of Akwa United’s league games under John Obuh, who left the club on Monday after a disappointing start to the season which saw them pick just seven points from their opening eight league fixtures. And on Wednesday, the Ebonyi-born player was on the pitch for all of the 90 minutes, as new head coach Kennedy Boboye got off to a winning start against Rivers United in Uyo.

Having beaten Stanley Eguma’s side to record their second win of the season and move up to 15th in the Nigeria Premier Football League, Chukwu and his team-mates are now focused on the potentially explosive clash with high-flying Dakkada, who lie third.

Boboye’s men are looking to get a result against their city rivals in order to move further up the table, and Chukwu thinks that a combination of “bigger-club” mentality and belief can help propel his team to victory.

“We’re the bigger club. We need the points more than them (Dakkada) and we’ll be coming out with full force to win the match,” the 24-year-old said during an interview on Thursday.

Boboye took charge of Akwa United’s training session for the first time on Tuesday, before leading the two-time Aiteo Cup winners to the win against Rivers United on Wednesday.

Chukwu said he was pleased with the win and his coach’s tactics on the evening.

“It’s always great to win. I’m happy about how the coach (Boboye) set us up to play.”

Mfoniso Williams