Nobody fancies the chances of height challenged players in aerial contests for balls, especially in seeking to score against taller defenders.
But dimunitive Wikki Tourists’ forward, Fuad Ekelojuoti believes heading balls is one of his major strengths despite his short height. He insists that he is not surprised beating opponents to high balls because they obviously under estimate his prowess in the air.
The second half substitute had headed home Wikki Tourists’ second goal against Dakkada FC in their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 27 clash at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, beating a taller defender to Emmanuel Charles cross. He quipped that while defenders see his shortness as a weakness, he sees it as an advantage which he has used to the fullest. 
Ridwan Adeshina opened scoring for the Wikki Tourists early in the game lashing home from top of the box few minutes after Abubakar Aliyu had hit the right hand post with goalkeeper Thomas Omokhudu stranded.
Aliyu later scoffed a chance to double the lead cuing wrongly inside the six yard box in front of an open net. Fuad, who replaced Manu Garba, doubled the scores in the 70th minute. 
According to the forward, “I’m not surprised scoring, as we have been practising goal scoring in training and this is one of the type of goals we have been practising. Scoring a header is also not a new thing to me, this happened to be what people see as a deficiency in me because of my height but I see it as an advantage. 
“I’m happy to have scored my second goal of the season for my team and I hope to score many more before the end of the season, perhaps hitting double digit. My staying power in the league has been the grace of God and a bit of hard work because I don’t play with extra training,” the veteran league player said. 
For Dakkada FC coach, Danlami Umar, the loss was not good for his team’s aspiration of beating the drop, but he is hopeful that they will escape relegation and maintain their premier league status next season. 
“We didn’t play up to our expectation, though we didn’t perform so badly. We still have hope that the team will pick up and we would get out of this mess. I don’t think it’s irredeemable, we will work harder to improve. Good result is what we are hoping for in the next match.”  

Another good display was not enough to prevent the Owena Whales from recording their first loss of the season in a disappointing Thursday’s afternoon at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

Coach Kabiru Dogo made four changes to the makeshift side that drew with Warri Wolves on Sunday as four new signings: Jamiu Alimi, Bright Akpojubweuvwo, Jonathan Zikiye and Sadiq Rilwan were handed their debut in the Orange and Blue jersey.

The quartet replaced Kehinde Adeyemi, Tope Akande, Alaba Adeniyi and Seun Olulayo in the first XI and their inclusion to have given the side instant synergy as Sunshine Stars dominated territory and possessions from the kick off.

During the dominance spell for the Owena Whales, midfield dynamo, Anthony Omaka had a glancing header saved by Seidu Mutawakilu inside the opening 10 minutes before drawing yet another impressive save from the goalkeeper in the 15′.

The best of the chances fell to Israel Abia who brilliantly outwit and paced out his marker to a pass in the area, but could not manage to put a tamed jab pass on-rushing Mutawakilu in the 35′.

Shortly after, it was time for the hosts to threaten, the former champions surged forward and knitted a few a passes together to create chance for Dauda Alkali who dragged his left-footed effort wide five minutes from the break.

Eight minutes after the restart Saliu Suleiman pulled a decisive goal line save to deny Rangers during a corner kick scuffle.

Nevertheless, the Flying Antelopes broke the deadlock in the 55′ through Egbujuo who was on hand to finish off a well crafted out chance by Ugochukwu Ugweke from the byline.

Sunshine Stars continued to probe after going down and were close to restoring parity when Rilwan beat his marker and an unleashed from the edge but his low drive, heading for the bottom left was kept out by Mutawakilu in the 73′.

With hitman, Abia injured and substituted in the closing stages Sunshine Stars looked to have lost some of it fear factors as Rangers closed out the game with little trouble for their first win of the season.

The Akure Landlords will next make a short trip across the East from the Coal City to Umuahia for a match day three contest with Abia Warriors on Sunday.

Dogo’s Post Match Quotes

“One will wonder why my team could not get something from this game with the way the boys played. Though I know we need to work more on the attack, I am confident we will get it right.

“Today four of the new players were able to play for us and I have no doubts things will improve by the time we have all the new players available.”

Sunsbine XI | Suleiman; Abe, Zikiye, Akpojubweuvwo, Alimi; Fatokun, Omaka, Rilwan; Ekelojuoti; Otegbeye (Adejubu 63′), Abia (Adeyemi 79′)

Unsed Subs | Ariyo; Obasi, Olulayo, Akande, Obanigba

Cautions | Abe 19′, Fatokun 62′