Dolphins Football Club left back, Mutiu Adegoke, says he is excited to return to the CAF Champions League competition after helping the Port Harcourt side win the Nigeria Premier League title.Adegoke had starred in the competition with Enyimba in 2006, reaching the group stage but failed to progress to the semifinals.He joined ASEC Mimosas in the following season and played in the Champions League again. But like the earlier season, he could only help the club reach the group stage. Adegoke said playing in the competition would help his return to the Super Eagles, after being frozen out since February 2010. His first invitation to the senior national team was in 2007 when he was included in the home-based Eagles team. He hinged his hope of a return on coach Stephen Keshis promise that home-based players who distinguished themselves at club level would earn a call to the Eagles.He said, I am happy to win the league title with Dolphins. I have not experienced a moment like this in a long time so naturally I am happy in many ways. Moreover, I feel great with the chance of playing in the Champions League next season. Its a competition I love and hopefully, Dolphins will do well next season. The last time I played in the competition was with ASEC so its good to return to the biggest club competition in Africa.Its a good thing that Keshi is giving opportunity to players at home now. I have been part of the Eagles team in the past and I want to return as I believe that I can win a place in the team. Hopefully, winning the league and doing well in the Champions League will bring me back. Everybody wants to play for his country at the top level of the game.Dolphins will be appearing in the competition for the third time in their history after unsuccessful attempts to be African champions in 1998 and 2005. The player warned that his club would have to strengthen the team to do well in the competition, noting that the best teams in Africa compete for the title.With my experience in the competition, I know that it is different from playing in the local league. You are competing against Africas best clubs and players of different background. Every match is difficult. We have a good team now and that is why we were consistent throughout the season. But we can be stronger with a few good additions.The club won the league on the final day of the season, beating Bukola United 1-0 away from home. Adegoke said despite the uncertainty that surrounded their ambition to win the title after losing 3-2 to closest rivals Sunshine in Ijebu Ode, he remained hopeful that the title would go to Port Harcourt.I have friends in Sunshine and a few hours before the final match they called me and told me that we would only finish second as they were going to seal victory against Pillars in Kano. I checked on my colleagues and tried to know what they felt. I realized that they were all confident and calm. So we were not negative about our ambition before the last game, said Adegoke.
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