Barau FC Winger Targets 20-Goal NPFL Season

Barau FC winger, Joseph Atule, has set himself the target of scoring 20 goals in this Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

‎Atule, who is available to face Nasarawa United in their first fixture at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, explained he had thought about setting himself a challenge after being directly involved in 13 of Barau FC’s goals last season.

‎‎The former Enyimba man also showed moderation in his target, saying if he fails to score 20 goals in the season then scoring “a lot of goals” for the Maliya Boys will be satisfactory.

‎”I have sat and thought about it. I’ve also challenged myself about it. If I am not going to score 20 goals, it should be a lot of goals. I am not going to put a specific number of goals to it. But I am looking at (scoring) 19 to 20 goals. That’s my target,” he said.

On their opening game of the campaign, Atule believes that they are prepared to face Nasarawa United this Sunday.

‎‎He revealed that the players are committed and United and promised a good start to the season.

‎”Training before our first game went well. The intensity is high and I can see the commitment and unity among the players. Every player is raring to go and on Sunday we will get a good result (against Nasarawa United),” the winger said.‎

‎Atule further took time to talk about his decision to join Barau FC last season after  leaving nine-time champions Enyimba.

‎He opened up that he never wanted to play in the northern part of the country owing to the weather, language barrier and previous experience. ‎The Benue-born player however had a change of heart after meeting with the club hierarchy.‎

‎”Actually I didn’t want to play in the north. The weather was a major reason and the experience I had before plus the language barrier I didn’t want to play in the north but the offer and standard I saw at the club changed my mind.

‎”But it is different at Barau FC because here they encourage players. The standard is high too. Player management is taken seriously at Barau FC,” said the Barau FC man.

‎Atule, who is now nicknamed Atule-Sosa by the club’s fans, underscored that he has settled down in Kano by pointing to his brilliant individual goal against El-Kanemi Warriors last season.‎

‎”I consider my goal against El-Kanemi Warriors last season as the most exciting moment for me at Barau FC so far. Now, I feel comfortable in Kano since joining Barau FC. The fans and everyone have been good to me and that has helped a lot,” he said.

‎Last season, Atule scored eight goals and provided five assists as Barau FC finished in eighth position in their first season in the NPFL.