League triumph was expected says John Noble

Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble says winning a record-extending Nigeria Premier League (NPL) title did not come to him as a surprise despite the club’s struggles in Group A of the abridged league season.

The People’s Elephant wrapped up the league title in Lagos on Sunday after a 1-1 draw against former champions Rivers United ensured they finished top of the round-robin Super 6 playoffs to claim a historic 9th league crown.

With lots of challenges both on and off the field in the course of the campaign, the former AS Kara of Togo shot stopper maintained he was optimistic the team will come out victorious in the end.

“For me, I was expecting the victory because I think we have a team that is made up of a lot of young players,” he noted. “I addressed the players before we travelled to Lagos (for the Super 6). I made them understand that we were not just going to Lagos to make up the numbers but rather to come back with the trophy.

“And knowing what the trophy means to us and the people of Abia State, it was an opportunity for us to write our names in the history books.

“I’m so happy that everyone adhered to that, and we fought with everything to make sure that we were able to come out as champions.”

After claiming the league title, 2-time African champions Enyimba will now shift focus to the Naija Super 8 competition, where they will face Oriental rivals Heartland in a zonal elimination clash in Eket between 23 and 25 June, 2023.