Lagos – Lagos-based debutant Ikorodu United FC has boasted to win the 2015/2016 Nigeria Premier League (NPL) shield.

The club which gained promotion to the Nigerian premiership after the 2015/2015 season has promised to purposely spring surprises in the premiership.

Dele Gbajumo, the General Manager of the club, made the assertion when he spoke on Sunday after the club drew 1-1 with Abia Warriors of Aba at Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

It was one of the Week 1 premier league matches played across the country as the new league season began.

“We are here not only to put in our best, but to emerge top in the Nigeria Premier League.

“We are here to create surprises, perhaps never created by any newly-promoted club before,’’ Gbajumo said.

The manager said that the main objective of every club in the NPL was to win, adding that the club was “absolutely determined’’ to lift the shield.

“Teams that feature in the league are with the mindset of winning and this applies to the team’s objectives of participation.

“We can only put in as much efforts as we can and hope for the desired results because the players have fighting spirit and want to win,’’ he said.

Commenting on the outcome of the match, Gbajumo said that the 1-1 draw with an “old ox’’ in the league was an indication that the team was ready to spin surprises.

“It was a great match. It revealed the fighting spirit of our boys. There is no threat in football except when one feels inferior to the opposition.

“Being in the same league and on the same field of play with old timer creates a level playing ground. The referees were in total control and they were fair,’’ he said.

But the disappointed Ikorodu supporters blamed the players for several opportunities they had which they failed to utilise.

Abia that first scored through Ndifreke Effiong in the 34th minute, while Agbane Candy equalised for Ikorodu in the 55th.