The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rivers Utd

  • Rivers Utd hope to keep winning

    Rivers Utd hope to keep winning

    Rivers United coach, Stanley Eguma said he hopes his team keeps winning so as to maintain their title push.

    Rivers United are now in second place on the NPFL standings with 53 points from 32 matches.

    Goals either side of half time by Bernard Ovoke and Daniel Israel gave the club a 2-0 victory over Plateau United on Sunday.

    Ovoke converted a penalty in the 31st minute after Salomon Junior handled Guy Kuemian’s goal-bound effort in the 25th minute.

    Substitute Daniel Israel completed the scoring for the hosts at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt in the 84th minute to seal maximum points for the ‘Pride of Rivers’.

    Rivers United coach Eguma charged his team to maintain the momentum.

    “I believe that the league is not over. If we keep working hard, we will maintain our position at the top till the end of the season,” he said.

    “For today, it was a hard fought victory but my players did well under the circumstance. One side had to win and we were the better side.”

    Plateau United coach Zachary Baraje said he has accepted the result.

    “Fantastic. It was a good game. The result stands no matter what I say and I take it. The result is okay,” Baraje said.

  • Gambo shoots down Rivers Utd

    Gambo Mohammed’s close range finish was all Kano Pillars required to defeat Rivers United 1-0 in a matchday 32 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game decided on Sunday in Kano.

    The veteran attacker swept home Adamu Mohammed’s low cross from the right in the 23rd minute after Rabiu Ali initiated the attacking move with an incisive pass.

    The big news before kick off was the decision of the Rivers United technical manager, Stanley Eguma to drop Sunday Rotimi, Bernard Ovoke and Guy Keumian from the starting line-up.

    Gambo had come close to scoring moments earlier when he swivelled in the box only to watch in frustration as his deflected strike off Markson Ojobo’s outstretched leg clattered against the cross bar.

    Rivers United had their moments in the first half too, most notably in the 43rd minute when Idris Aloma’s well-struck volley flew narrowly wide with the Kano Pillars goalkeeper, David Obiazo beaten.

    Frederick Obomate’s smartly-taken volley earlier in the half threatened to see the visitors make their mark in hot and humid conditions at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

  • Rivers Utd hail referee Ishiaku

    General Coordinator, Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt, Bashir Badawiy, has praised the match officials that handled their away match against Elkanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri, describing it as one of the best officiating his team has gotten this season.

    Bash as he is fondly called, singled out Ishiaku Ibrahim a.k.a Collina as one of the best referees in the elite league and stated if the Kogi State born referee can keep the momentum he will go places handling the whistle.

    “He (Ishiaku Ibrahim) really comported himself and the other officials, we are not used to complaining about referees but, we have to thumb up Ishiaku Ibrahim for his firm control of the match. We need more of this fair and unbiased officiating so that our league can move to the next level.”

    “I am an apostle of good football and fair officiating, Elkanemi are a good side and they really deserve to walk away with the win, the match officials did well, its just that we lost most of our scoring chances, we have forgotten about the match and are looking ahead of our next match. We lost not because of biased officiating but, because we were unable to take our chances,” Bash said.

  • Rivers Utd’s coach lowers target after Sunshine loss

    Rivers Utd’s coach lowers target after Sunshine loss

    Rivers United coach, Stanley Eguma has now said he will be happy to clinch a ticket to play international football for the Port Harcourt club after they lost 1-0 at Sunshine Stars.

    “We must work hard and try to win the title or at the very least, get a ticket to represent Nigeria on the continent next season,” Eguma said after the match in Akure.

    “It was a good game and we prepared very hard to win as a good result would have helped our position on the log.

    “We have lost now and must look ahead because the league is getting tougher now.

    The defeat left United in third place on the table with 44 points, three points behind Wikki Tourists and Enugu Rangers who have both played a game more (27 matches as opposed to 26 played by United).

    Dele Olorundare produced a moment of magic, four minutes before half time, to shoot Sunshine Stars past Rivers United.

    The implications of securing maximum points were not lost on  Sunshine Stars coach, Solomon Ogbeide, who lavished praise on the vanquished opponents.

    “We played a very good side. They are tactically very disciplined but we are also a very good side,” he said.

    “They are where they are today on the table not by fluke but proved that they deserve to be there but we are also a very good side.”

  • Governor Wike splashes millions on Rivers Utd

    Governor Wike splashes millions on Rivers Utd

    GOVERNOR Ezenwo Nyesom Wike (CON) on Sunday matched words with action as he watched Rivers United in a competitive game for the first time.

    He was present at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt as Rivers United beat Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) 2-0 in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game.

    United have impressed this season and are still in the running for glory in both the NPFL and the Federation Cup.

    As part of plans to adequately motivate the club, Wike outlined several incentives which should spur players and officials of the club as the season enters the home strait.

    The governor splashed N7 million on the football club for the win over 3SC in Port Harcourt on Sunday with a further N3.5 million set as the financial carrot each time the football club earns a draw away from home in the NPFL this season.

    For an away win in any of their remaining matches in this season’s NPFL, N7 million has been earmarked .

    The Rivers State chief executive also promised $50,000 U if the team defeats either Julius Atete FC or Enyimba International FC in the quarter final of this year’s Federation Cup.

    The governor also revealed that a ‘special package’ awaits the football club if they reach the last four of the oldest football competition.

    Rivers United is currently in third place on the NPFL standings with 44 points from 26 games, two points adrift of the leaders, Enugu Rangers.

  • Rotimi: Rivers Utd can shoot for title

    Rotimi: Rivers Utd can shoot for title

    Rivers united goalkeeper, Rotimi Sunday has said the team is in for a shot at the league title, after a comprehensive 4-1 win over MFM FC at the weekend in Port Harcourt.

    Stanley Eguma’s men tie surprise league leaders, Wikki Tourists on point,and the veteran Nigerian league shot stopper told footballlive.ng that the win was very important for his side in the face of the tough nature of the competition this season.

    Rotimi stressed that results such as last weekend’s was capable of turning the club’s season around for good.

  • Rivers Utd have won nothing yet, says skipper Austin

    Rivers Utd have won nothing yet, says skipper Austin

    Rivers United captain, Festus Austin has insisted the Port Harcourt club have achieved nothing yet this season despite their stunning 3-1 home win over Nigeria league leaders Enugu Rangers last weekend.

    United overcame the setback of missing five first-teamers to comprehensively beat ‘The Flying Antelopes’ at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port-Harcourt.

    Austin acknowledged that the win was important, but also stressed on the importance of his team mates to keep their feet firmly on the ground ahead of today’s clash with Warri Wolves.

    “Winning that game against a strong side like Rangers was important but that is now in the past.

    “We have not achieved anything yet this season.

    “We go to Warri with humility but without fear of our opponents as we try to get a positive result.”

  • Rivers Utd’s Kuemian out for a week

    Rivers Utd’s Kuemian out for a week

    Guy Kuemian Venance will be out of action for the next seven days after he picked up an injury in Sunday’s 1-2 defeat of Rivers United away to Heartland FC.

    The Ivorian forward went down unchallenged in the second half of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game at the Dan Anyiam Stadium and was promptly replaced by Daniel Israel.

    After preliminary tests, the attacker has now been told that he will not play competitively for the next seven days by the Rivers United team doctor, Chukwuemeka Agi.

    “We have conducted preliminary tests with more to follow in Port Harcourt (on Monday). Guy has been ruled out for the next seven days with a strain of the left quadriceps. He will require physiotherapy/physical therapy to return to full fitness,” Dr Agi told supersport.com.

    The news will come as a blow to United faithful as Kuemian has proved to be a hit with big performances for the club since he made his debut against MFM FC at the Agege Stadium on February 24.

    Kuemian will now miss United’s next league game at home to the former champions, Kano Pillars on Sunday, April 17.

  • Rivers Utd spoiled for goalkeeping choice

    Rivers Utd spoiled for goalkeeping choice

    Technical manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma must make a decision about his choice of goalkeeping personnel ahead of Saturday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in Ibadan.

    Rotimi Sunday started United’s first five games this season but was overlooked for the match day six defeat to Niger Tornadoes in Lokoja.

    Godwin Anyalogu, Rotimi’s replacement in Lokoja, impressed despite conceding three goals and Eguma admits he has a decision to make as regards who starts in goal for United in Saturday’s game against the Oluyole Warriors.

    “It will be a difficult decision to make (as regards who plays against Shooting Stars) but I will wait till the last moment. It is a headache but a good one. Rotimi is excellent but I was also impressed with Anyalogu’s performance against Tornadoes.

    “There is also (former Sharks goalkeeper) Henry Ayodele who has not played so far this season and he is one of the best goalkeepers I have worked with. I will decide who plays (in Ibadan) on Saturday,” Eguma told supersport.com.

    Eguma also discussed his side’s failure to come up with the goods on their travels thus far despite emerging as the NPFL side with most goals on the road this season.

    He admitted that “mistakes” have been made in previous games but insists that those errors have been corrected ahead of Saturday’s big game.

    “The game against 3SC is a big one and we know that they have been doing well this season. We hope we can correct our mistakes (from previous matches) as we go to Ibadan. We will map out our strategies as we go to Ibadan for the game and ensure that we do not return empty-handed,” he said.

  • Rivers Utd still looking for right formula

    Rivers Utd still looking for right formula

    Rivers United may have amassed maximum points from all their home games in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) this season but are still far from the “finished article,” according to the technical manager of the club, Stanley Eguma.

    United won against Enyimba, FC Ifeanyiubah and Nasarawa United this season but came unstuck with defeats on the road against Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) FC and Giwa FC.

    Eguma said the defeats in Lagos and Jos plus the laboured nature of Sunday’s win at home to Nasarawa United could be traced to a team that is yet to fully bond.

    “We are in need of reinforcements in certain areas. We have been playing certain players out of position. Chigozie Ihunda is a natural right back but because our first choice left-back, Ali Chiwendu is injured, we are playing him (Ihunda) in that position.

    “Ayobami (Asekunowo) is a central defender but he’s been made to play at right back and that’s why he did not have a good game (versus Nasarawa United on Sunday).

    “In subsequent matches, we will have our players back to our usual positions and that will see us play our normal game,” he told supersport.com.

    United are currently fifth on the NPFL standings, just one point adrift of the leaders, Enugu Rangers but the trainer is hesitant to light the blue touch paper of public expectancy.

    “What we have is a young team. People are expecting us to play like Enugu Rangers, Kano Pillars and Enyimba but it is not possible at this stage.

    “Most of them are playing together for the first time. It’s just the tactical input and the experience of a few of them that has carried us (over the line) in the games we have played so far. However, we will soon stabilise and everyone will see a better-playing Rivers United team,” he said.

    United will face Niger Tornaodes in their next league fixture in Lokoja on March 13.