Draws, upsets herald new Nigerian Premier Football League

Fans of Ibadan side, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), watched helplessly, yesterday, as Bayelsa United subjected their team to an opening day 0-1 home defeat at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba.
Following the “rejuvenation” of the team led by a new management board, supporters of the 1996 African Cup Winners Cup champions went into the game with so much expectation, but the Yenagoa-based Bayelsa United had other ideas.
They simply kept things cool till the 30th minute when they struck the winning goal through Kehinde Lawal’s header, after which they held on to get the second away win of the season.
Earlier yesterday, Warri Wolves had beaten Katsina United 1-0 in Katsina to record the first away win of the season.
In the other games at the weekend, defending champions, Remo Stars held last season’s runners up, Rivers United, to a 1-1 draw in their adopted Abeokuta home, while new boys, Barau United ended their first NPFL game on a goalless note with former champions, Enyimba, in Kano.
Enyimba played the last 10 minutes of the game with 10 men following the dismissal of Mujeed Odufeso in the 80th minute for ungentlemanly behaviour.
Paul Samson was the hero for Abia Warriors as his 35th minute goal gave the Umuahia-based side a 1-0 victory over Kano Pillars, but El Kanemi Warriors, who struggled in the relegation zone for a better part of last season, came out smoking in their opening game as they defeated Bendel Insurance 2-0 to take early lead on the table.
New boys, Kun Khalifa held Enugu Rangers to a goalless draw in Enugu, Ikorodu City and Kwara United ended their tie goalless in Ilorin, while Wikki Tourists were 1-0 better than Plateau United.