Tag: Rivers Utd

Gabriel Wassa has completed his move to Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Rivers United.

The full back, who defended the colours of Niger Tornadoes in the 2016 season, said his mission to Rivers United is to help the team achieve their set goals for the next season as he promised to give his best to the Pride of Rivers.

”My future has been sorted out. I will be playing for Rivers United in the next campaign,” Wassa told Goal.

“I’m satisfied with the package as well as the new environment, the players and the coaching crew. I believe the relationship and atmosphere in the camp will go a long way in helping us actualise our dreams.

“I’m in Port-Harcourt to help Rivers United to a successful outing in the league and Federation Cup. A good outing in the CAF Champions League is also top on my priority list.”

“My history won’t be complete without mentioning Niger Tornadoes. It was fun playing for the club. The management, coaches and my fellow players were all wonderful. My prayer is that the team strives higher in the new season,”he said.

Rivers United head coach, Stanley Eguma has stated that players of the Port Harcourt based side were to resume for the new  Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season yesterday to enable the team sufficient time to prepare for the domestic campaign and the CAF Champions League competitions.

Players and officials of the Pride of Rivers embarked on three weeks break immediately they were hosted by the state governor, Nyesom Wike who rewarded the team despite placing second on the league table last season and Eguma said that having observed the break it was time for the players and other officials to come back because of the assignments on their hands.

“I have sent word to all my players that they are all expected back in Port Harcourt on Monday for the start of next season’s preparations,” Eguma told Goal.

“We do not have much time to waste again and we want to resume early this term so that we can have enough time for ourselves. We are going to play in three competitions next season and we must be both physically and mentally ready too to achieve our set goals.”

Abiodun Akande says he is looking forward to a better second season with Rivers United.

“It’s very difficult to be a top player and I think the best place to get it is Rivers United,” Akande told Goal.

“Next campaign will be better and I am very certain of that because I now know what it takes to make it. The club will be playing in the Caf Champions League which is the highest club football in Africa. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Rivers United will soon start negotiations with clubs that secured the services of their players on loan last season with a view to making the deal permanent as they prepare for life in the CAF Champions League and in the domestic scene next season.

Coach Stanley Eguma said that the Port Harcourt side will not add to their team as they hope for a good outing in next season’s CAF Champions League.

“We have started making moves to have talks with clubs we used their players on loan last season,” Eguma told Goal.

“We will like to make the deal permanent because of our involvement in the CAF Champions League and other competitions on the domestic scene. We will like to use our players solely for these competitions and we will like to discuss with clubs in that category to look at the option of selling their players to us permanently.”

Eguma praised the club’s proposed tour of Real Madrid for the build up to their preparation for next year’s CAF Champions League while asserting that the goodwill of the Rivers government will rub up positively on the team’s campaign on all fronts next season.

Rivers United coach, Stanley Eguma said his team exceeded expectations by finishing runners-up in the NPFL to qualify for next year’s CAF Champions League after many expected them to battle relegation.

“It is a pity we did not win the league title, but it is quite clear that we performed much better than a lot of people thought we would. This club came into existence just days before the season commenced and we were a lot of people’s favourites to be relegated. We suffered a lot, but I thank God that we have been vindicated in the end,” Eguma said after his team won 2-1 at Akwa United on Sunday.

“We, however, knew what we were about and stood true to our values of hard work, discipline and total trust in God. Today, the result is there for all to see. To have gone into the final day (of the season) still with a chance to win the league is no mean feat.”

The Port Harcourt club started the day in second place and knew they had to win to guarantee themselves a place on the continent.

Obomate Frederick and Guy Kuemian scored for Rivers United either side of half time, while Fortune Omoniwari claimed a consolation for the home team.

Rivers United experienced ,Sunday Rotimi has vowed his team will fight for the Nigeria league crown till the final day of the season.

“Rangers are better placed than Rivers United, but we will not give up, we will fight till the end, vowed Rotimi, who is posting his 19th season in the Nigeria league.

“I have won the league before with Dolphins, but winning it now as Rivers United captain will be incredible.”

The Port Harcourt club are home against Abia Warriors on Sunday, before they end their campaign away to Akwa United the following weekend.

He said the title race is very tight and still far from predictable.

“This is a season where the champions may not be known till the final day of the season,” he told AfricanFootball.com.“The so-called favourites like Enyimba and Kano Pillars are no longer in contention to show you how competitive and unpredictable this season has been.”

Rotimi praised Rivers United, a merger of Dolphins and relegated Sharks, for gunning for the championship in only their first season.

“We started pre-season late because of the coming together of Dolphins and Sharks,” he said.

“And it was not easy playing with a new set of players, but even at this point, we are at least guaranteed continental football next year.”